1H 



M 




mm 



FABLES AND TALES, 



SUGGESTED BY 



!,iE FRESCOS OF POMPEII 
AND HERCULANEUM. 



BY W. B. LE GROS. 



Praetulerim scriptor delirus inersque videri, 
Dum mea delectent mala me, vel denique fallant, 
Quam sapere, et ringi. Horat. Ep. ii. lib. 2, 

If such the plagues and pains to write by rule, 

Better, say I, be pleased, and play the fool ; 

Call, if you will, bad rhyming a disease, 

It gives men happiness, or leaves them ease. Pope. 




LONDON: 

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, 

1835. 






,*5- 



PRIXTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, 

Dorset Street, Fleet Street. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



That the weakest go to the wall, is an old 
and vulgar adage, which I am not sure that I 
clearly understand; but, if its meaning be that 
they look to it as a means of support, my own 
Muse will undoubtedly afford a new and striking 
example of its truth, since, in her progress through 
the following pages, she will be found constantly 
resorting to the classic walls of Pompeii and 
Herculaneum to guide her tottering steps. 



LIST OF ENGRAVINGS. 



1. MELEAGER AND AT AL ANTE, with other Figures, 

(House of Meleager, Pompeii,) . . Frontispiece. 

To face page 

2. STORK AND LIZARD, (Pompeii,) ... 3 

3. STORK AND FISH, (Ditto,) .... 7 

4. VENUS, WITH CUPID HOLDING A CASKET, 

(House of Meleager, Pompeii,) ... 12 

5. VENUS AND CUPID FISHING, 

(House of Tragic poet, Pompeii,) .... 14 

6. PERSEUS RESCUING ANDROMEDA, 

(Museo Borbonico,* Naples,) .... 29 

' 7, PERSEUS SHOWING THE REFLECTION OF 

MEDUSA'S HEAD, (House of the Graces, Pompeii,) 32 

\S. ARIADNE DESERTED, (Museo Borbonico,) . 48 

9. BACCHUS DISCOVERING ARIADNE, (Ditto,) . 51 

10. PYGMIES IN A BOAT, (Museo Borbonico,) . 61 

11. PYGMIES AND CRANES FIGHTING, 

(Excavation of 1834, Pompeii,) .... 73 



* N.B. Of the Frescos at present collected in the Museo 
Borbonico in Naples, many were brought from Herculaneum. 



VI ILLUSTRATIONS. 

To face page 
■ 12. FIGURE OF ATALANTE, (Museo Borbonico,) . 95 

13. LADY AND SERVANT, (Museo Borbonico,) . 105 

14. LADY WITH TABLETS AND STYLE, Servant 

peeping, (Museo Borbonico,) .... 126 

15. ORGIES OF BACCHUS 141 

16. BACCHANTE AND ^SCULAPIUS, 

(House of Meleager, Pompeii,) . . . . 143 

17. MARRIAGE OF ZEPHYR AND FLORA, 

(Museo Borbonico,) 153 

■18. APOLLO PLAYING ON THE LYRE TO A 

NYMPH, (House of Meleager,) ... 166 

19. HERCULES AND THE NEM^EAN LION, 

(Museo Borbonico.) 177 

20. HERCULES BOUND TO A PILLAR, with Minerva 

seated (Museo Borbonico,) .... 182 

21. DEATH OF ACTION, (House of Sallust, Pompeii,) 189 

22. DIANA AND ENDYMION, 

(House of the Graces, Pompeii,) .... 190 

23. APOLLO AND MERCURY, (House of Meleager,) . 197 

2 .:. MERCURY OFFERING A PURSE TO CERES, 

(House of Meleager,) 208 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

THE STORK AND THE LIZARD ... 3 

VENUS AND CUPID ....... 11 

PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA .... 29 

ARIADNE 37 

THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES ... 61 

MELEAGER AND ATALANTE .... 89 

PAMPHILA, OR THE FATAL TABLETS . . 105 

BACCHUS AND JESCULAPIUS . . . . 141 

FLORA 149 

MINERVA AND HERCULES . . . ' . 177 

DIANA AND ENDYMION . .187 

APOLLO AND MERCURY 197 



FABLES AND TALES. 







~>^ : 




. ■ "_ yEJ 



" "-•' ' Street. 



THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. 

A Fable followed by a moral 
Should act like infants'' bells and coral ; 
The first with jingle should invite 
Each grown-up babe to take a bite ; 
The second should, instead of tooth, 5 

Produce some salutary truths 
'Tis hence I venture to relate 
How, to avoid the dreadful fate 
Of being gobbled up alive, 
A cunning Lizard did contrive. 10 

In ancient days, when beasts could speak, 
And Wisdom's precepts might be heard 

Proceeding from th' inspired beak 
Of great Minerva's fav'rite bird, 



4 THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. 

It chanced that on the Sarno's side 15 

A Stork, whose step betokened pride, 

Beheld with most contemptuous sneer 

The Swallows on its surface clear, 

And Sand-birds on the neighb'ring beach, 

Pursuing with discordant screech 20 

Some flies that, when obtained at last, 

Made but a sorry day's repast. 

He cast his lordly look around, 
And seeing near him on the ground 
A troop of Lizards in the sun, 25 

In merry mood, disporting run, 
He thought 'twould be a good occasion 
For eating with some ostentation ; 
And finding that his appetite 

Was somewhat sharpened by the sight, 30 

Approached one larger than the rest, 
And thus the trembling wretch addressed. 
" Stop, reptile ! at my bidding stay ; 
6 Thou 'rt destined to become my prey, 



THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. O 

" And show this low-bred, vulgar flight 35 

" Of Swallows, that offends my sight, 

" How at one gulp more food I gain 

" Than they with days of toil obtain. 

" Dispatch, if thou hast aught to say, 

f 6 For hunger will not brook delay ." 40 

Thus spake the Stork : the wretch before him 
Beheld a long beak " in terrorem," 
And knowing that he could not hope 
With such an enemy to cope, 

Successfully, in strength or speed, 45 

Determined, in such case of need, 
Instead of fighting or of running, 
To use his eloquence and cunning. 
" I should," exclaimed the crafty Lizard, 
" Stick sadly in your royal gizzard ; 50 

" For doctors, 'tis well known, insist 
" That of all creatures which exist, 
" Whether they're beasts that roam the field, 
" Or birds that airy regions yield, 



O THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. 

u Or fishes in the briny deep, 55 

" Or reptiles on the earth that creep, 

" We little scaly Lizards are 

" Most indigestible by far : 

" And if your grace should make your dinner 

u On me, poor miserable sinner, 60 

" 'Twould cause, without the smallest doubt, 

" Dyspepsy, cholic, or the gout. 

" Wherefore, I humbly dare to pray 

" You '11 leave me to pursue my way. 

" The Sarno yields much better fare ; 65 

" Then deign to listen to my prayer, 

" And let your clemency be shown, 

" If not for my sake — for your own." 

As thus he spoke, and whilst the question 
'Twixt empty crop and indigestion 70 

His fate seemed likely to decide, 
Lo ! in the rivers friendly tide, 
As if to crown the suppliant's wish, 
Sudden a glitt'ring shoal of fish 




- - 



- ' ■ " 



THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. I 

The greedy Stories attention caught, 75 

Who, pouncing on them quick as thought, 

Was pleased to find he could command 

More wholesome food so near at hand, 

And took it not the least in dudgeon 

To leave our Lizard for a Gudgeon. 80 

Whenever hapless suppliant's fate 
Hangs on the fiat of the great, 
To touch their feelings or their pride 
Let every argument be tried ; 

But still the strongest and the best 85 

Is found to be self-interest. 



NOTES. 

LINE 1. 

A Fable followed by a moral 

Should act like infants' bells and coral. 

It would be useless to follow Aristotle through a long dis- 
cussion as to the difference between a Fable and an Apologue, 
and all their subdivisions iuto /Esopian, Lydian, Cyprian, &c. ; 
for my own, (unless they may be supposed to have some 
connexion with the last mentioned,) I fear, would not come 
under any description at all. The great father of critics, how- 
ever, insists, that whatever the fable may be, it should have a 
moral expressed or understood ; and with that rule, at least, I 
have endeavoured to comply to the best of my ability, though 
I fear that even my morals may sometimes be thought a little 
doubtful. As, however, I do not challenge the criticism of 
the fastidious, my ambition will be fully satisfied if I am now 
and then found by the more indulgent reader to realize what 
Phsedrus, in his Prologue, says should be the object of a fable. 

" Duplex libelli dos est ; quod risum movet, 
u Et quod prudenti vitam consilio monet. 
" Calumniari si quis autem voluerit, 
" Quod et arbores loquantur, non tantum fera ; 
" Fictis jocari nos meminerit fabulis." 



NOTES. y 

LINE 15. 

It chanced that on the Sarno's side 
A Stork, whose step betokened pride. 

The Sarno is a beautifully clear stream, which, issuing from 
the base of a mountain, near a modern town of the same name, 
flows about twelve miles in a winding course through the 
plain in which the ruins of Pompeii are situated, (in fact, 
the " quae rigat sequora Sarnus " of Virgil,) and falls into the 
sea immediately opposite to the insulated castle of Rovigliano. 
I will not vouch for the fact of there ever having been Storks 
on its banks ; its vicinity to Pompeii must be my excuse for 
having made it the scene of my fable. 

line 49. 
" J" should* 7 exclaimed the crafty Lizard, 
" Stick sadly in your royal gizzard" 

It has been objected to me that Lizards are not naturally 
cunning ; but the Lizard in question, (as depicted in the copy 
of a fresco with which I have been favoured,) has certainly 
a very persuasive air, and seems actually to be pleading his 
own cause. The original painting was destroyed in its re- 
moval ; but there is excellent authority for its having existed, 
as well as the long-legged nondescript with the fish in his 
mouth. 



n 



VENUS AND CUPID. 

Each courtly dame or lowly lass 
Alike consults her looking-glass : 
If lovely, 'tis with satisfaction 
At seeing there so much attraction ; 
If not, 'tis with a hope to trace 5 

Some latent charm of form or face, 
Which, helped judiciously by art, 
May chance to catch a wand'ring heart. 

No wonder, then, the Queen of Beauty, 
On going through such pleasing duty, 1 

One morning, when her own dear Spring 
Seemed to her charms new grace to bring, 
Should feel a thrill of proud delight 
On viewing that unrivalled sight, 



12 VENUS AND CUPID. 

Which, though the world it held subjected, 15 

By her was only seen reflected. 

The mirror Venus looked upon 
Was held by her attendant son, 
Who, though in childhood's tend'rest age, 
Was yet so perfect as a page, 20 

That when he saw his mother's eye 
Kindle with well-fed vanity, 
He thought 'twas just the time to ask 
A boon in virtue of his task, 

And cried, " Mamma, I do so wish 25 

" That you would take me out to fish. 
64 You know you promised long ago 
" Your darling son that sport to show ; 
" And now, I'm sure, you can't say nay, 
" You look so beautiful to-day." 30 

The latter well-placed argument 
Home to the Goddess' feelings went ; 
And, parting Cupid's golden hair 
With rose-tipped fingers long and fair, 



i.K 







! 



-- 






VENUS AND CUPID. 13 

She kissed his forehead and replied, 35 

" Thy wishes shall be gratified. 1 ' 

This said, the happy little God 

Was furnished with a line and rod 

By some attendant Nymph ; another 

Was carried for his smiling mother, 40 

Who to each line had fixed a bait 

Which she, with female pride elate, 

Conceived no fish could e'er withstand, 

Formed as it was by Beauty's hand. 

Within Cythera's favoured isle, 45 

Where Nature erst, with brightest smile 
And promise of eternal spring, 
Her ready welcome seemed to bring 
To Venus, when she first was seen 
Rising from ocean, Beauty's Queen : 50 

Within that island's deepest shade, 
Where votive myrtles never fade, 



14 VENUS AND CUPID. 

Forth from the bosom of a hill 

Escapes a streamlet's limpid rill : 

At first the thraldom of the rock 55 

With murmur loud its waters mock ; 

But soon, the happiest of streams, 

Content with liberty, it seems 

To kiss its moss-grown banks and play 

A thousand gambols on its way, 60 

As with fantastic course it bends, 

Whilst plenty on each turn attends, 

And the glad peasants of the vale 

Its fertilizing windings hail. 

'Twas to this lovely river's side 65 

That Venus now with Cupid hied; 
And choosing a sequestered spot, 
Where, shaded by o'erhanging grot, 
Its deeper waters formed a pool 
Of liquid crystal bright and cool, 70 

Like him, in thoughtless, playful mood, 
The Goddess gay her sport pursued. 



. 







- 



VENUS AND CUPID. 10 

The eyes of the delighted boy 
Sparkled at first with childish joy, 
When in their native streamlet clear 75 

He saw the finny tribe appear, 
And hasten courtier-like to wait 
In due attendance on the bait, 
Which he, with truly prince-like taste, 
Now slowly trailed, now dragged in haste, 80 

Now raised, now dropped with droll caprice, 
Nor left the fish a moment's peace. 
But Cupid, after having spent 
An hour on such pursuit intent, 
Began to think his sport would be 85 

More satisfactory, if he 
Could manage with his glitt'ring lure 
Some bolder trifler to secure. 
But all in vain the sportsman tried 
To lay the nib biers at his side ; 90 

In vain he watched each greedy gill 
(i orge his now passive bait at will ; 



16 VENUS AND CUPID. 

For, though a sudden jerk might bear 

Some glutton to the upper air, 

As sudden came the hated splash, 95 

Off his intended prey would dash, 

And, darting nimbly through the tide, 

Seem all his cunning to deride. 

The baffled God, with angry pout, 
Beheld the triumph of the Trout, 1 00 

And begged his mother to explain 
Why thus his efforts all were vain. 
" Indeed, my dear, I cannot say, 
" But why attempt to catch them, pray ?V 
Inquired the Goddess ; " as for me, 105 

" My great amusement is to see 
" How this same silly tribe offish 
" All move obedient to my wish. 
" Do mark that Chub with bloated cheeks, 
" How painfully my bait he seeks ! 110 

" Whilst yonder merry little Dace 
" So lightly hovers on the chase ! 



VENUS AND CUPID. 17 

" See, how th' insinuating Eel . 

" Seems cautiously his way to feel ! 

u And how the fierce voracious Jack 115 

" Darts boldly forward to th" attack ! 

u To me His really quite delight 

" To teaze them all with constant flight ; 

<c And what the mother thinks good fun, 

" Should, surely, satisfy her son." 1£0 

" For shame, Mamma !" cried little Cupid, 
" I never thought you half so stupid, 
" As thus, unblushing, to allow 
" That you have not a notion how 
" To catch this finny generation, 125 

" Whose triumph gives me such vexation. 
" If 'tis your pleasure here to dangle, 
" And waste your time in useless angle, 
" Know, / such paltry pastime scorn, 
" And wish your Goddesship good morn. ,, 130 

TK indignant boy, with hasty flight, 
Then vanished from his mother's sight ; 



18 VENUS AND CUPID. 

But, as the screening rock he passed, . 

The long pent torrent burst at last, 

And running faster still from fear 1 35 

Lest she his sobs might chance to hear, 

Whilst, pettishly, the stream he eyed, 

The child forgot the God, and cried. 

But, ere he thus had wandered far, 

He heard the whirling of the car, 140 

Whose coursers proudly seemed to. bear 

Minerva through the realms of air. 

'Twere mere conjecture, labour vain, 
To seek the object to explain . ■ - 
Which brought that Goddess to an isle 145 

So little favoured by her smile ; 
For she but seldom bent her way 
Where Venus held despotic sway, 
And altars ne'er were known to raise 
Their votive smoke in Wisdom's praise ; 150 

But, as it chanced, the " blue-eyed dame * : 
Precisely at that moment came, 



VENUS AND CUPID. 19 

And little Cupid, fairly caught, i '. : - 

In vain to hide his weakness, sought. 

As lightly from her car she stept, 155 

Minerva, seeing he had wept, 
Fondly caressed his humid cheek, 
And deigned his sorrow's cause to seek. 

It may, perhaps, seem somewhat odd 
That she should thus caress a God . 160 

Whose silly mother's vanity 
Sought with her higher rank to vie ; 
But Pallas, though she ne'er could sate 
'Gainst Venus her immortal hate, 
Had found her breastplate pervious prove 1 65 

To the sweet smiles of infant love. 
And oft-times would she condescend 
(Such wisdom I, for one, commend,) 
To drive severer thoughts away, 
With Cupid in " a game at play." 1 70 

Hence, when with blush, where shame and joy - 
Contending strove, the petted boy . - 



20 VENUS AND CUPID. 

Had told his mighty cause of woe, 
She begged his tackle he would show ; 
Good-naturedly resolved to try J 75 

Her little friend to gratify. 

A smile came o'er her face divine 
At sight of Cupid's rod and line ; 
(Such smile is seen in courtly throng, 
When rivals break down in a song ;) 180 

And, laughing scornfully, she cried, 
" I marvel not the fish defied 
" Your efforts, since, of flight secure, 
" They well might tear your hookless lure. 
" Worthy of Venus was the thought 185 

" That they by bait alone were caught ; 
" But, Cupid, you shall quickly see 
" What His to have a friend in me." 

A piece of steel, as thus she spoke, 
Minerva from her armour broke, 190 

And having added to the line 
A hook contrived by art divine, 



VENUS AND CUPID. 21 

O'er it the former lure she spread ; 

Then, giving it to Cupid, said, 

" There, take your line, my pretty boy, .195 

" No longer now a useless toy, 

" But made to gratify your wish : 

" For, with my hook to catch the fish 

" Attracted by your mother's bait, 

" Your sport is certain to be great." 200 

The eager boy scarce stopped to thank 
The Goddess ; but the river's bank 
Regained with breathless speed, and found 
Fair Venus going still the round 
Of piscatorial flirtation, "205 

Precisely in her former station. , 

Without delay his bait he threw 
And forth a Trout in triumph drew ; 
His mother heard his joyful cry, 
But would not please his vanity 210 

By other notice than a glance, i I 

At what she thought th' effect of chance. 



22 VENUS AND CUPID. 

But when she saw his finny store : 
.Increasing ever more and more ; . 215 

When mingled Gudgeons, Eels, and Dace, 
In dying struggles splashed her face, 
She cried, "Do tell me, Cupid, how 
" You, who went pouting off just now 
" Because you could not catch one fish, 
'* Land them as quickly as you wish ? 220 

" Why does not like success await 
" My efforts, with the self-same bait, 
" Which seems infallible with you ?" 
" Your bait the fish attracts, 'tis true,'" 
Quoth he, triumphantly, " but, look ! 225 

" I catch them with Minerva's hook." 

Beauty, fair ladies, is a bait 
Which, though its first effect be great, 
Still, being nothing but a lure, 
Must fail affection to secure, 230 



VENUS AND CUPID. 23 



And soon or late desertion brook, 
Unless 'tis aided by a hook 
Whose point is doubly barbed by 
Good-sense and amiability. 



24 



NOTES. 

LINE 11. 

One morning, when her own dear Spring 
Seemed to her charms new grace to bring. 

It seems almost needless to give authority for a fact which 
all must feel, that Spring is the true season of Venus ; but 
Horace says, 

" Ut tamen noris quibus advoceris 
" Gaudiis ; Idus tibi sunt agendse, 
" Qui dies mensem Veneris marinae 
" Findit Aprilem." 

And Ovid. Fast, lib. iv. 

" Venimus ad quartum, quo tu celeberrima, mensem, 
" Et vatem, et mensem scis, Venus, esse tuos." 

line 15. 
Which, though the world it held subjected, 
By her was only seen reflected. 

The universal power of Venus is thus described by Homer 
in his Hymn to that Goddess :— 

Modffet, fitoi 'Ivnvrt epyu ToXv^pvtrou ' A(ppoVirns t 









NOTES. 25 

Kal t %bafAa.ffffa.TO (pZkoc xarahnrm av&piutfuv, 

Oimovs ti hitfirias, xai 6ng\a Toivra, 

'Hftzv off' ntfugo? tfoXka. rgiQu, rtf off a vrovros. 

And Theocritus says she could subdue Jove himself. 

®Uftov avu'iffroifftv v<7roa*(/.n&us (ZzXhffffi 
Kvtfgiooi, n fjcovh omarai xa.) Zzvva %a(/,affdai. 

LINE 17. 

The mirror Venus looked upon 
Was held by her attendant son. 

The fresco here alluded to still remains, in the house of 
Meleager, at Pompeii. The object in the hands of Cupid 
does undoubtedly more resemble a casket for jewels than a 
modern looking-glass ; but I take the liberty of following the 
opinion of those who think that ancient mirrors were fre- 
quently placed in similar cases. The Venus, at all events, 
has the air of being perfectly well satisfied by her recent 
glance at the contents of the case in question : and what 
casket, let me ask, can possibly contain a more lovely gem, 
or one more satisfactory to its possessor, than perfect female 
beauty ? 

line 45. 
Within Cythera's favoured isle, 
Where Nature erst, with brightest smile. 

Hesiod says that Venus rose from the sea near the island 
of Cythera, and was wafted on shore by the Zephyrs. Homer, 



NOTES. 



in his Hymns, gives a similar account of her rising; but says 
it was in Cyprus she landed ; "et adhuc sub judice lis est." 

line 51. 

Within that island's deepest shade, 
Where votive myrtles never Jade. 

That the myrtle was sacred to Venus we are informed by 
Virgil, Eclog. vii. 

" Populus Alcidae gratissima ; Vitis Iaccho ; 

" Formosa Veneri Myrtus ; sua Laurea Phcebo." 

There are quantities of other authorities, but that most to the 
purpose is of Ovid, who seems to hint that it grew abun- 
dantly in Cythera. Speaking of Venus, whom he had in- 
voked, he says, 

" Mota Cytheriaca leviter mea tempora Myrto 
" Contigit, et, coeptum perfice, dixit, opus." 

LINE 71. 

Like him, in thoughtless, playful mood, 
The Goddess gay her sport pursued. 

The fresco representing this scene is to be found in the 
" House of the Poet," at Pompeii. 



NOTES.. ST 



LINE 107. 



How this same silly tribe offish 
All move obedient to my wish. 

If that most amiable inflicter of torture, Isaac Walton, 
should chance to peep up from his grave and honour me by- 
reading this fable, I fear he would find great fault with my 
ignorance of (t the gentle art," and tell me that one and the 
same bait would never succeed in attracting all the different 
kinds offish I mention. Under such correction I should kiss 
the "rod," although no "brother of the angle;" and, in my 
defence, simply beg old Isaac to remember that, as fabulists 
are allowed to endue fish (supposed to be by nature mute) 
with the human faculty of speech, it is no great licence to 
make their likeness to mankind consist in their common 
pursuit of " a glittering bait." 

line 161. 

Whose silly mother's vanity 
Sought with her higher rank to vie. 

That Minerva came next in rank to her father, we are thus 
informed by Horace, who, speaking of Jupiter, says, 

" Unde nil majus generatur ipso, 
" Nee viget quidquam simile, aut secundum ; 
" Proximos illi tamen occupavit 
" Pallas honores." 



%0 NOTES. 

Notwithstanding all this, Vqnus bore away the palm of 
beauty from the greater personage. How often do we see 
the charms of a duchess eclipsed by those of her "femme de 
chambre !" 



,. 



«=a 







29 



PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. 

Andromeda with ceaseless pout 
Had worn poor Perseus 1 patience out, 
Teazing from morn till night to see 
The Gorgon's physiognomy. 

At first the hero thought it best 5 

To argue on the strange request ; 
But soon discovered it was treason 
A beauty to oppose with reason. 

Sometimes he soothed her with caresses, 
Played fondly with her flowing tresses, 10 

And praised her beauties one by one — 
By flatt'ry wonders oft are done ; 



30 PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. 

But though she answered to his flame 

With equal ardour, still the dame 

Would whisper 'midst their am'rous play, 15 

" Do show the head, my love, to-day ." 

Sometimes he thought it fit to scold — 
But all the world knows well, of old, 
Nor man, nor demi-god can hope 
With female eloquence to cope. 20 

Sometimes, again, he vainly sought 
To change the subject of her thought ; 
Told of the regions he 'd explored, 
Extolled the virtues of his sword, 
Displayed the all-resplendent shield 25 

Which Pallas' self had deigned to wield, 
Showed Pluto's helmet, Merc'ry's wings— 
Gifts such as Gods bestow on Kings ; 
And then the dangers he recounted, 
Which by their aid he had surmounted. 30/ 

But when he thought his point attained 
And her attention fairly gained, 



PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. 81 

His wife would, suddenly, exclaim, 

" I doubt not of your deeds and fame, 

" But, having always heard it said 35 

" That the dead Gorgon's snaky head 

" Is far more wonderful than all 

" To which you now my notice call, 

" It really does seem very hard 

" From such a sight to be debarred. 40 

" You have it, I am sure, concealed 

" Beneath your garments or your shield : 

" You have, you tiresome man ! you know it ; 

" I wish to Heaven that you would show it." 

Now had they lived as man and wife 45 

Too often do, to end the strife, 
The fatal head he would have shown, 
And turned his better half to stone ; 
But Perseus, still an ardent lover, 
Racked his invention to discover 50 

Some other means of satisfaction, 
Without producing petrifaction. 



32 PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. 

It chanced, as musing thus one day 
Our puzzled hero took his way, 
That a small pool his progress stopped, 55 

And, as a careless glance he dropped 
Upon its mirror clear though rude, 
His own reflected form he viewed. 
On Perseus' mind a pleasing light 
Burst as he gazed upon the sight : 60 

" This friendly water would disarm 
w The Gorgon of her baneful charm ; 
6i And he, at length, without a fear, 
u Might gratify his sullen dear," 

With lighter step away he hied, 65 

And forth, in triumph, led his bride, 
When soon the sequel proved him right, 
For scatheless she endured the sight ; 
Instead of being turned to stone, 
Resumed the smiles that long had flown, 70 

And (blush not whilst you read, fair Misses !) 
Signed on his lips the peace of kisses. 




, " .jconiLej". 



^UagiDTi, 5trBet>. 



PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. 66 

The wisest it would needs perplex 
To please each fancy of the sex ; 
But, husbands, it is worth the trial 75 

Sometimes, instead of rude denial, 
To prove like Perseus your affection, 
By calling to your aid " reflection." 



34 



NOTES. 

LINE 28. 

Gifts such as Gods bestow on Kings. 

The Gods were very fond of equipping those whom they 
patronized; and Perseus seems to have been particularly 
favoured in this respect. Pluto lent him his own helmet, 
which had the quality of rendering its bearer invisible ; 
Vulcan gave him a short sword in the shape of a pruning- 
hook; Minerva gave him a shining buckler; and Mercury 
furnished him with wings and " talaria." 

LINE 51. 

Some other means of satisfaction, 
Without producing petrifaction. 

I must confess that I have made Perseus a very stupid 
fellow for not thinking of making the same use of his shield 
on this occasion as on a former one. 

" Narrat Agenorides 

***** 
" Gorgoneas tetigisse domus; passimque per agros, 
" Perque vias vidisse hominum simulacra, ferammque, 
" In silicem ex ipsis visa conversa Medusa ; 
" Se tamen horrendae clypei, quod laeva gerebat, 
" iEre repercusso formam adspexisse Medusae." 

Ovid. Met. 

But had he done so for Andromeda, there would be an end 
to my fable. 



NOTES 



35 



LINE 67. 

When soon the sequel proved him right, 
For scatheless she endured the sight. 

There are several frescos on this subject j that from which 
the annexed copy is taken is in the house of Endymion, at 
Pompeii. 



37 



ARIADNE. 

In days of old the marriage vow 
Was not much better kept than now ; 
For Deities and mortals strove 
To imitate the deeds of Jove. 

But whilst each vagrant God and hero o 

(Whose honour must have sunk to zero) 
Most polygamically sought 
Fresh wives where'er they could be caught, 
Mythology will scarce afford 

An instance of deserted lord ; 10 

Except, of course, fair Helen's case, 
Though even she contrived t' efface 
The mem'ry of her broken vows, 
By coaxing her forgiving spouse. 



30 ARIADNE. 

As far as running is concerned, 15 

The tables now indeed are turned ; 
A modern husband, tied for life 
To scold or spendthrift as a wife, 
In vain attempts to break away : 
He need not love, but he must pay. 20 

What though he fly to one more kind, 
'Tis but his wife he leaves behind ; 
Her debts pursue, whatever his course, 
(Like Care behind her victim's horse,) 
And he is favoured by a summons, 25 

For maintenance, from Doctors' Commons. 

But if, of such ill-sorted pair, 
It chance to be the lady fair 
Who tries illicit honey-moon 

With some broad-shouldered bold dragoon, 30 

Her spouse, by ridicule assaulted, 
Is like the righteous man exalted ; 
And left to make the pleasant choice, 
Obeying laws' or honour's voice, 



ARIADNE. 89 

Of spending thousands in "an action," 35 

Or being shot for " satisfaction." 

But, with respect to my assertion 
Of ancient cases of desertion, 
Mythology will well supply us : 
That weeping coward self-styled pious, 40 

By perjured vows and conduct vile, 
Drove Dido to the burning pile : 
And fifty others I could cite 
Who left their wives in doleful plight, 
Though none in baseness could exceed 45 

Th' Athenian Prince's treacherous deed. 

To Naxos' undulating isle, 
Whose vine-clad hills with plenty smile, 
Theseus and Ariadne came, 

While Cupid still fanned Hymen's flame ; 50 

As fond a pair as e'er was seen 
At the first stage from Gretna's Green ; 



40 ARIADNE. 

His love, for lack of other food, 

Might well have fed on gratitude, 

Since, from the fatal LaVrinth led 55 

In safety by her gift of thread, 

He owed his freedom and his life 

To the kind foresight of his wife. 

I know not, nor does hist'ry say, 
How many months had passed away 60 

Before that harbinger of woes, 
The first connubial tiff, arose ; 
Nor can I clearly state its cause, 
Since married folks contend for straws : 
But, as a calm succeeds a storm, 65 

Perchance the hero grew less warm, 
And she, with love but ill requited, 
May have conceived her merits slighted, 
And, to her recreant lord^s vexation, 
Too oft recalled his obligation. 70 

But, whether I am right or not 
About the cause, it was their lot 



ARIADNE. 41 

To find their once sweet solitude 

Made bitter by discussions rude, 

In which, no doubt, the angry tide 75 

Flowed strongest on the lady's side. 

Let not her memory be chid 

Too harshly even if it did. 

Those censors, less gallant than bold, 
Who find such fault that women scold, 80 

Forget that with so many charms 
They needs must have some sort of arms. 
We men, when schoolboys, can insist 
On points disputed with the fist ; 
And, when our age or our condition 85 

Compels more dignified position, 
Are able still with shot or sword 
To punish an insulting word : 
But we are scandalized outright 
If e'er we see a woman fight. 90 

What then must injured women do ? 
The answer 's plain, — enact the shrew, 



ARIADNE. 



And, with befitting strength of lungs, 
Employ their wondrous gift of tongues. 

Theseus, at times, would deign to try 95 

By soothing words to pacify 
The ruffled temper of his lady ; 
Or, leading her to covert shady, 
When he had nothing left to say, 
Would kiss her angry words away. 100 

And thus they led the sort of life 
That many a modern man and wife, 
'Twixt peace and war, oft pass together, 
Like sun and cloud in April weather. 

But one sad morning, — 'twas by day 105 

The lady to her tongue gave way, 
Thinking it politic and right 
To make the quarrels up at night ; 
One morning, when domestic strife 
Had been unusually rife, 110 

The deafened hero sought the shore 
To soothe his ears with ocean's roar. 



ARIADNE. 



Not like Achilles in despair 

At recent loss of captive fair ; 

But there, in angry mood, he went 1 1 5 

His lady's presence to lament. 

As thus he chafed, disgust and spite 

His flickering love extinguished quite, 

When chancing to approach the bay 

Where his small bark at anchor lay, 1 20 

Sudden the wicked thought arose 

Of flying from his wedded woes. 

Such thoughts, which pious men would show 
Direct from Satan's malice flow, 
And Epicurus' sect advance 125 

To be the pure result of chance, 
In Theseus' case, I think, might rise 
From having there before his eyes 
The means of sailing off, to try 
The pleasures of variety. 130 

But, whatsoe'er their cause, they pressed 
With force resistless on a breast 



44 ARIADNE. 

Already predisposed to hate 

The once loved partner of his fate. 

The die was cast, his crew was told 135 

The bark in readiness to hold ; 
But Theseus till the dead of night 
Determined to defer his flight, 
And thus without a scene depart : 
For though his own obdurate heart 1 40 

Could well resist a woman's tear, 
Some sailor, he had cause to fear, 
Before he could get well afloat, 
Might mutinize his little boat, 

And, spite of his commander's order, 145 

Assist his injured wife on board her. 
Meantime the day, as oft before, 
He spent in roving on the shore ; 
But his appearance duly made 

When Hesp'rus shone above the shade ; 150 

Lest absence at the hour of rest 
Some vague suspicion might suggest. 









ARIADNE. 45 

As now the lady and her lord, 
At distant corners of the board, 
In silence made their night's repast, 155 

She, little thinking 'twas the last 
In which her overtures must brook 
His cold, repulsive, scornful look, 
Of all her little arts made use 
To bring about the wished-for truce. 160 

The salt, for instance, seemed to stand 
Beyond the reach of Theseus 1 hand ; 
She placed it near, and furtive flashes 
Of passion glanced from silken lashes ; 
But not one look did he accord 165 

The act to notice or reward. 

Next, of the viands placed around 
She chose the best that could be found, 
And, with insinuating smile, 

Tow'rds Theseus moved the sav'ry pile. 170 

Still not a look ; he took the platter 
Quite as an ordinary matter, 



46 



ARIADNE. 



And ate as though to save his life, 

Without once looking at his wife. 

But women, whether maids or married, 175 

When any point is to be carried, 

Are not so easily defeated ; 

And Ariadne, though ill treated, 

Undaunted still, with goblet large 

Returned a third time to the charge. 180 

The wine that sparkled to the brim 

She sipped, then passing it to him, 

With eyes as sparkling, seemed to say, 

" There ! wash your sullen mood away, 

" And pledge your culprit's inclination 185 

" For speedy reconciliation." 

Yet even this attempt was vain ; 

For, though the wine she saw him drain, 

Not for one moment did his eyes 

Above the ample goblet rise ; 190 

But seemed its inmost depths t 1 explore 

As if to seek for deeper store. 



ARIADNE. 47 

The lady, once more driven back, 
Ceased for the present her attack ; 
Content her last reserve to keep, 195 

Till after her tormentor's sleep. 
For though before he tasted rest, 
He often spurned her from his breast, 
She never yet had found him prove 
Averse, on waking, to her love. 200 

So when, at length, her sullen spouse, 
After a somewhat deep carouse, 
On nuptial couch with breathing deep 
Seemed buried in profoundest sleep, 
With confidence his lovely bride 205 

Took her position by his side, 
And soon into that slumber fell 
Which the false Theseus feigned so well. 

But, whilst she thus unconscious lay, 
The traitor, ere the break of day, 21 

Exchanged the matrimonial pillow 
For freedom on the stormy billow ; 



48 ARIADNE. 

And (thus concluding a career 

In which, without remorse or tear, 

Of friends and home he had bereft her,) 215 

Weighed anchor, hoisted sail, and left her. 

Her waking horrors who shall tell, 
Save Ovid, who could paint so well 
The quick transition of her thought 
From the first moment when she sought 220 

Her absent lord with outstretched arm, 
To try her potent morning charm, 
Until her wild suspicions 1 flow 
Urged her the fatal truth to know, 
And from lone Naxos 1 utmost height 225 

His less'ning vessel met her sight ? 

Such grief I beg to pass in haste, 
As little suited to my taste ; 
Although, distinctly, I declare 
My tender feelings for the fair 230 

Would not permit me to make light 
Of Ariadne's hapless plight, 




















WI0ik~ 



ft 




-p 

.... /a/ /, 



--■ ■<■/¥? 



xL "by F. Bramlej 






■ ■ ■ " ' 



ARIADNE, 49 

Were I not previously certain 

Of having left, behind the curtain, 

A remedy to heal her woes, 235 

And happily the drama close ; 

As slaughtered crowds to life all come, 

By Merlin's wand, in famed Tom Thumb. 

Imagine, then, dishevelled hair 
With all the symptoms of despair, 240 

And tears, — no, tears would scarcely flow 
In such impassioned case of woe ; 
Though oft the fiercest storm of grief 
In sleep's soft calm will find relief. 

'Twas thus that, at the midnight hour, 245 

The Cretan, in deserted bower, 
Was buried in that deep repose 
Which from exhausted nature flows ; 
And, as she slept, each softer beauty 
Returned, unbidden, to the duty 250 

From which the passions of the day 
Had rudely driven it away. 



50 AR1AENE. 



But here a God I must exhibit 
Whom Horace 1 self would scarce prohibit ; 
For, surely, none has greater right 255 

In Naxos 1 isle to take delight. 
Then let the great immortal come 
With sound of cymbal and of drum, 
Whilst vot'ries, shouting forth his praise, 
Bear torches which, though bright their blaze, 260 
Are dim before the looks divine 
Of him the rosy God of Wine, 
Who, 'midst the ivy-crowned throng, 
Now leads the dance and now the song. 

Great Bacchus from his fav'rite isle 265 

Had long been absent, and with smile 
Of joyful recognition viewed 
Its hills uncultured then and rude, 
Though doomed, in future, to become 
At once his glory and his home. 270 




'Egrarcc. t 



.-■ 



ARIADNE. 51 

But since, as yet, it was his whim 

Naxos should welcome only him, 

He felt both anger and surprise 

When marks of footsteps met his eyes. 

His looks divine grew somewhat black, 275 

As first he followed on their track ; 

But when he reached the wooded glade 

Where Theseus had his dwelling made, 

His brow with rage was seen to lower 

At sight of the intrusive bower. 280 

Straight to the spot, with purpose dread 

Against the intruder, Bacchus led 

His band, when, lo ! their torches 1 glare 

Fell full upon the sleeping fair, 

An object fit for view divine : 285 

Her tresses, like his faVrite vine, 

In beautiful confusion flung, 

Around her neck in clusters hung ; 

And as her bosom's half-seen snows 

In gentle palpitation rose, 290 



52 ARIADNE. 

Her breath in murmurs seemed to sip 
Its honey from her rosy lip. 

One hand but I've described enough 

To soften bosom far more rough 
Than that of Bacchus, who had entered 295 

With eVry thought on vengeance centred ; 
But now, at Ariadne's feet, 
A suppliant fell in posture meet. 
The sequel of my tale is plain, 
For Gods like him sue not in vain ; 300 

Nor did the waking lady make 
Resistance when he sought to take 
The post deserted at her side, 
But strove her blushing face to hide : 
Since, though she yielded with delight, 305 

It was, in one short day and night, 
A case embarrassing and odd 
To lose a man and gain a God, 



ARIADNE. 53 

Ye new-made pairs of cooing Doves, 
Here take a hint about your loves, 310 

From " an ungraduated student " 
44 Too much retirement is not prudent, 
" But rather hastens the detection 
44 That neither party is perfection." 

And, next, ye Wives of modern days, 315 

Give laws canonical due praise , 
That husbands cannot, as of old, 
Escape from better halves that scold. 

And ye, fair Maids, who being single 
At thoughts of matrimony tingle, 
Though once forsaken still be wise, 
Instead of crying out your eyes, 
Preserve their brightness to recover 
Some substitute for faithless lover. 



54 



NOTES. 



LINE 11, 



Except, of course, fair Helen's case, 
Though even she contrived t' efface 
The menCry of her broken vows 
By coaxing her forgiving spouse. 

It is well known, that at the conclusion of the Trojan war, 
the fair cause of it, to make her peace with Menelaus, be- 
trayed her then husband, Deiphobus, whose shade thus in- 
forms iEneas of the fact, 

" Infelix habuit thalamus, pressitque jacentem 
" Dulcis et alta quies placidseque simillima morti. 
" Egregia interea conjux arma omnia tectis 
" Emovet, et fidum capiti subduxerat ensem : 
" Intra tecta vocat Menelaum et limina pandit, 
" Scilicet id magnum sperans fore munus amanti, 
" Et famam exstingui veterum sic posse malorum." 

Menelaus " received her to his grace again," and, as Zanga 
would say, " The world must call him wondrous, wondrous 
kind." 



NOTES. 55 

LINE 23. 

ler debts pursue, whate 1 er his course. 
Like Care behind Iter victim's horse. 

" Post equitem sedet atra Cura." — Hor. 

line 40. 

That weeping coward self-styled pious. 

" Sum pius iEneas, Libycis ereptus ab undis." 

In spite of Dryden's famous defence of the character of 
iEneas, I cannot help thinking him the most cowardly, mean- 
spirited, and dishonourable of all those adventurers of an- 
tiquity to whom I have ventured to apply the epithet of 
" vagrant." We find him always weeping in danger, or 
" duplices tendens ad sidera palmas," instead of exerting 
himself like a man ; we find him, moreover, breaking faith 
whenever it suits him to do so, and finally fighting (under his 
mother's protection) in the most unjust cause imaginable. 

LINE 47. 

To Naxos' undulating isle, 

Whose vine-clad hills with plenty smile. 

Though the " clustering Cyclades" sound very well in Byron, 
they are now a sadly barren-looking group. Naxos, however, 
is the largest and most fertile, and probably in Virgil's time 
merited his description, 

" Bacchatamque jugis Naxon." 



56 NOTES 

LINE 57. 

He owed his freedom and his life 
To the kindforesight of his wife. 

" Utque ope virginea nullis iterata priorum 

" Janua difficilis filo est inventa relecto ; 

" Protinus ^Egides rapt& Minoide Dian 

" Vela dedit, coraitemque suam crudelis in illo 

" Littore desemit. Desertae et multa quereiiti 

" Amplexus et opem Liber dedit." — Ovid. Met. 

LINE 63. 

Nor can I clearly state its cause, 
Since married folks contend for straws. 

Ovid says, De arte amandi, 

" Hoc decet uxores ; dos est uxoria lites." 

LINE 109. 

One morning, when domestic strife 

Had been unusually rife. 
I ought perhaps to apologise to Ariadne's memory for thus 
making a scold of her ; but there must have been some cause 
for the shameful desertion of Theseus, and I cannot imagine 
a better one. Some, indeed, say that Theseus, having received 
a hint to that effect from Bacchus, left his wife behind for the 
peculiar oblectation of that God. If such was the case, he 
was a most accommodating husband, and would do honour 



NOTES. 57 

to modern Italy. Others again say, the desertion of Ariadne 
was caused by the instigation of Venus, who pursued with 
vengeance all the descendants of Apollo, in consequence of 
his having published to the celestial world her amours with 
Mars. Ariadne was Apollo's granddaughter; her mother 
Pasiphae was the offspring of that God and Perseis, one of 
the Oceanidse. 

line 220. 
From the first moment when she sought 
Her absent lord with outstretched arm. 

<e Incertum vigilans, a somno languida, movi 
u Thesea pressuras semisupina manus ; 

" Nullus erat : referoque manus iterumque retento, 
■' Perque torummoveo brachia; nullus erat." 

Ovid. Ep. 

These, and the lines following them, form the description 
alluded to. 

line 253. 
But here a God I must exhibit 
Whom Horace' self would scarce prohibit. 

" Nee Deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus." 

The criticisms of Horace refer to tragic or epic poetry, with 
which mine, I fear, has but too little in common ; yet the dis- 



58 NOTES. 

tress of Ariadne would, in any case, be allowed to be 
" dignus vindice nodus." 

LINE 268. 

Its hills uncultured then and rude, 
Though doomed, in future, to become 
At once his glory and his home. 

Ariadne says, in her epistle already quoted, 

" Quid faciam ? quo sola ferar ? vacat insula cultu. 
" Non hominum video, non ego facta boum." 
It is therefore fair to suppose that Bacchus had not, as yet, 
put his plans of improvement into execution ; and it must have 
been some time afterwards that, recovering from a drunken 
bout, he desired the boatmen who had taken charge of him, 
to carry him home to Naxos. 

" Naxon, ait Liber, cursus advertite vestros : 
" Ilia mihi domus est. — Ovid. Met. lib. iii. 

XI ne 307. 
A case embarrassing and odd, 
To lose a man and gain a God. 

However embarrassing it may have been, Ovid very justly 
observes that Ariadne had every reason to be satisfied with 
the change of lovers ; 



NOTES. 59 

'Jam bene perjuro mutarat conjuge Bacchum, 
"Quae dedit ingrato fila legenda viro ; 
" Sorte tori gaudens. ' Quern flebam rustica/ dixit, 
" ' Utiliter nobis perfidus ille fuit.' " 

LINE 311. 

From " an ungraduated student." 

Student, I mean, in the " University of Venus/' which, 
thanks to that Goddess, is conducted on much more liberal 
principles than those of Oxford and Cambridge. She is, 
indeed, an "Alma Mater" far more indulgent than they, 
since she allows her "Undergraduates" to call themselves 
" Bachelors," and to keep their names on her books, without 
forcing them into the " Schools of Matrimony," in which it 
is the " honours," and not the " examination," that are to be 
dreaded ; for whereas a " double first class " is seldom at- 
tained, the Cambridge distinction of " wrangler " is, unfor- 
tunately, only too common. 



61 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

In the vast ^Ethiopian waste 
By most geographers is placed — 
Pray, ask not how the fact they trace— 
The seat of the Pygmaean race. 
A race so cheated of proportions 5 

That some conceive they were abortions, 
Who, by their parents spurned and hated, 
Had to the desert emigrated. 
Others again as gravely state, 

Old Pagans too of note and weight, 10 

That they indigenous were found 
On central Afric's sandy ground. 
But such opinion needs must fail 
In modern ages to prevail ; 



62 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

Since all believing Christians find 15 

Undoubted proof that all mankind 
(Scripture to tell the fact vouchsafeth,) 
Descend from Shem and Ham and Japheth 

But, whatsoever the origin 
Of Pygmies, I will now begin 20 

My notice of them with a story 
Redounding greatly to their glory. 
And if there be its truth who doubt, 
Philostratus must bear me out, 
And by the shadow of his name 25 

Hide my veracity from blame. 

When Hercules had done to death 
Antseus, squeezing out his breath, 
Exhausted on the Libyan shore 
The hero slept with deep-toned snore. 30 

For even heroes, now and then, 
Snore when they sleep, like other men. 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 63 

As thus insensible he lay, 
A Pygmy squadron passed that way, 
And when in claps prolonged and clear 35 

His nasal thunder struck their ear, 
Surprised to hear the hills around 
Re-echo such an unknown sound, 
These gallant knights set spur to goat, 
And, guided by the sleeper's note, 40 

Stopped not their course until they found 
His form gigantic on the ground. 
Alcides by his club was known, 
And here the Pygmies' valour shone ; 
For though they knew that one so great 45 

Their army might annihilate. 
If they provoked him by attack 
Whilst lying peaceful on his back : 
Still, when the flatt'ring prospect came 
Of adding to their martial fame, 50 

Each doubt gave way, and one and all, 
Swearing to conquer or to fall, 



64 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

Their spears of rushes set in rest, 
And tilted at his head and breast. 

The buzzing of their first career 55 

So slightly struck Alcides" ear, 
It scarce his slumbers served to break ; 
But, half asleep and half awake, 
He opened not his heavy eyes, 

And, thinking them a swarm of flies, 60 

Tapped with his hand this way and that, 
Like one who tries to kill a gnat. 

Full twenty Pygmies fell around 
Slain or ungoated on the ground ; 
But the main body formed again 65 

At some short distance on the plain, 
And, with redoubled fury, sped 
To die with or avenge the dead. 

Some strength of faith you now may need 
To make you credit what yon read, 70 

Though true as aught the Gospels tell 
Is the sad chance that next befell 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 65 

When in this second charge the lance 

Of the first Pygmy in advance, 

Grazing Alcides 1 goodly nose, 75 

Caused him with sneeze to lay his foes, 

Knights, chargers, panoply and all, 

Prostrate in one promiscuous fall. 

Just as a child by breathing hard 

Upon his leading man of card, 80 

Without e'en moving from his post, 

O'erthrows his numerous, mimic host. 

Now, though some drops of blood there trickled, 
And Hercles'' nose was sorely tickled, 
His fancy still was tickled more 85 

When he proceeded to explore 
The chosen warriors of a nation 
Felled to the earth by sternutation. 
At first, so great was his surprise, 
He scarce believed his drowsy eyes ; 90 

But when, by dint of yawn and shake, 
At length convinced he was awake, 



66 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

The hero fairly laughed outright 
At such a droll and novel sight. 

Ill could Pygmsean chieftain brook 95 

E'en Hercules'* contemptuous look ; 
But struggling, like a living fish 
Amidst its fellows in a dish, 
Above the mass contrived to poke 

His head, and thus indignant spoke. 1 00 

" Laugh on, Alcides, if you deem _ 

u Such mirth can Jove's great son beseem. 

" Deride, insensate as you're great, 

" The Pygmies in their fallen state ; 

" Enjoy your triumph too, but know 105 

" Such triumph to mere chance you owe. 

" 'Tis true that, with a waking sneeze, 

" You "Ve strewn us here like fallen trees ; 

" But, had you slept a little longer, 

" We Pygmies should have proved the stronger, 110 

cc And, with our oft-repeated blows, 

" Have pierced your head as well as nose." 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 67 

As, brandishing his spear, he ceased, 

Alcides - * wonder was increased, 

That imps, no higher than his thumb, 115 

With hostile purpose should have come ; 

But valour, in his noble mind, 

Responsive chord was sure to find ; 

So, feeling not the least offended 

At all the mischief they M intended, 120 

He cried, " My gallant little friend, 

" Let not my smiles so much offend ; 

" The chance of war has laid you low, 

" But I will aid my fallen foe. 

" For, though I laugh to see your plight 125 

" After the late unequal fight, 

44 I like your looks and courage too ; 

" And now, to prove my words are true, 

" Will bear you to Eurystheus' court, 

*.* To which you 11 add a fresh support, 130 

" And, surely, will not think it hard 

" To form his ' pocket body-guard. 1 r 



68 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES* 

Thus speaking, with considerate care 
Raising the Pygmies in the air, 
One after one he popped them in 135 

The great Nemaaan lion's skin, 
Which, though the simile be tame, 
He carried like a bag of game : 
And when, at length, he reached Mycenae, 
Where Pygmies never had been seen, he 140 

Greatly astonished all beholders 
By lifting armies from his shoulders. 
This in Pygmsean history 

Is but an episode, and I, 

Having been sadly led astray, 145 

Must hasten forward on my way 

To subject more important far, 

Their great, hereditary war. 

As country squires are sure to hate 

The owner of the next estate, 150 

So has each nation and each king 

A certain knack of quarrelling, 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 69 

(In spite of diplomatic labours,) 

Most fiercely with their nearest neighbours ; 

And Cranes and Pygmies, it appears, 155 

Thus fell together by the ears. 

The Cranes, a long-necked generation, 
Time out of mind, had held their station 
Where the great Niger's waters glide 
In most inexplicable tide ; 160 

And there, contentedly enough, 
Inhabited the dwellings rough 
That reeds afforded, and for food 
Betook them to their native flood. 

But though both birds and beasts may be 1 65 
Contented with their destiny, 
That " Lord of the Creation " man, 
All records prove it, never can ; 
But urges still his search profound 
O'er lawful or forbidden ground. 170 

Our friends, the Pygmies, being then 
A sort of Lilliputian men, 



70 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 



Were soon incited to explore 
The windings of the Niger's shore. 

The Cranes but slight attention paid 175 

To the first inroads that were made ; 
And though, at length, with jealous eye 
They viewed their growing frequency, 
Their little neighbours would" not hurt 
By any hostile act overt. 180 

But as a mine may harmless lie 
Though prompt its baneful force to ply 
When slightest spark ignites the train, 
So 'twas with Pygmy and with Crane ; 
And from the chase of dragon-flies 185 

Their mighty warfare did arise. 

It seems, to follow such diversions, 
The Pygmies yearly made excursions 
To where those flies were most in force, 
On Niger's low and marshy course ; 190 

And, quite regardless of the damp, 
Pitched, for a time, their rustic camp, 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 71 

Content to take things in the rough 

As long as they had sport enough. 

From some such camp a shooting party 195 

Of young patricians, strong and hearty, 

Took, as it chanced, one luckless day, 

To a more distant spot their way, 

Where, in the river's broadest tide, 

A little rushy isle they spied, 200 

Which promised an extent of cover 

By Pygmy ne'er as yet shot over. 

I leave all sportsmen to suppose 

How at the sight their ardour rose : 

But how were they to reach the spot, 205 

For boats these little men had not, 

And wading suited not at all 

With Nimrods of a size so small ? 

The more fool-hardy chose to swim, 

But suffered sadly for their whim ; 210 

For though, by puffing and by splashing, 

They reached the isle in manner dashing, 



£ 



72 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

Their pop-guns, wetted on the way, 

Were rendered useless for the day. 

The rest, by their example wise, 215 

Then sought around with anxious eyes 

Some temporary raft or boat 

On which securely they might float ; 

Nor sought in vain, for having found 

Gourds growing on the marshy ground, 220 

With cockle-shell, which served for scoop, 

They formed their barks from stern to poop ; 

And, manning with divided crews 

Of threes and fours these strange canoes, 

Reached, as the water was not rough, 225 

The wished-for island safe enough. 

'Twere merely waste of time to tell 
The quantities of game that fell ; 
Suffice to say, their sport had power 
To make them all forget the hour, 230 

Till warned by evening's lengthening shades 
To leave the island's reedy glades. 



J] 




n - 






trzet 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 73 

But, ere the sportsmen could embark, 
The night, alas ! had grown so dark 
That they no longer now descried 235 

The objects on the river's side ; 
And, in their ill-directed course, 
Arriving at a rapid's force, 
Their boats were carried to a station 
Established by the rival nation, 240 

And cast away just where the Cranes, 
With ingenuity and pains, 
Had raised an outwork formed of reed, 
To save their nests in case of need. 
Aroused by such a rude attack, 245 

These warlike birds, with angry clack, 
Supposing they were come to pillage 
The newly-built Venetian village, 
Without a question sank each boat, 
And, as the Pygmies rose to float, 250 

Dispatched them with a tap or tweak 
Delivered by resistless beak. 



74 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

Of all that hapless sporting band 
One only reached his native land : 
Saved by a long and kicky dive, 255 

He gained the nearest shore alive, 
And, toil-worn, reached the Pygmy court, 
So lately quitted for his sport, 
Where his recital sad, though brief, 
Excited mixed revenge and grief. 260 

" War t" was the cry, " war to the knife !" 
And, rushing on to mortal strife, 
An army soon had sought the field, 
Of Pygmies, never known to yield. 

The Cranes with like precipitation 265 

For war made all due preparation, 
Convinced the quarrel could not be 
Adjusted by diplomacy, 
And knowing that their hasty action 
Would call for instant satisfaction. 270 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 75 

Would I had Homer's muse to tell 
The glorious actions that befell ; 
Or Pindar's flood of song to write 
The deeds of each Pygmaean knight ! 
But such attempts are not for me; 275 

And, humbler than Matinian bee, 
I find it suits me best to say, 
That years of warfare passed away, 
In which success by turns attended 
Those most whom most the Gods befriended. 280 
For they, as in the case of Troy, 
Treated such combats as a toy, 
And urged them with alternate shock, 
As children play at shuttlecock. 

At length it happened that the Cranes, 285 

Defeated on the open plains, 
Were driven, as a last resort, 
To occupy a line of fort, 
Which, strengthened by the river's course, 
Alone could check th' invading force ; 290 



76 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

So that the Pygmies with a fleet 

Would make their conquest quite complete, 

And that they had resolved to bring 

In action the ensuing spring. 

Meanwhile, that gallant little nation 295 

Was full of joy and exultation ; 

Feasting and balls amused the court, 

The populace had meaner sport, 

And triumph sparkled in the mien 

Of their victorious, youthful Queen. 300 

How shall I tell the dreadful fate 
That followed such a prosperous state ? 

Gerana had, as I have said, 

Her armies oft to conquest led ; 

And though undoubted was her claim 305 

To be yclept iC a glorious dame, ,1 

She also was, like " good Queen Bess," 

Too vain of fancied charms and dress. 

Thus with her generals it was seen 

That she was biassed by their mien, 310 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 77 

And, though she made them do their duty, 
Most favoured those who praised her beauty. 
Thus too her tell-tale looks confessed 
She liked the younger courtiers best ; 
Neglecting vet'rans old and surly, 315 

"Who spoke their mind too free, like Burleigh. 

But, to proceed : the Queen one day 
On a soft couch reclining lay, 
And studied, with a glass before her, 
Fresh graces for some new adorer. 320 

Around her "maids of honour" stood, 
Admiring each new attitude. 
They praised the splendour of her charms, 
The graceful moulding of her arms, 
Her sparkling eyes, her teeth of pearl, 325 

The hanging of each petted curl, 
The swelling of her iv'ry breast, 
Her waist, her form, and all the rest ; 
Until, at length, their adulation 
Produced complete intoxication, * 330 



78 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

And the poor Queen exclaimed, " Do you know, 

" I think I 'm fairer far than Juno; 

" And had I, in my beauty's pride, 

" Appeared on Ida at her side, 

" The Trojan would have judged between us 335 

" Much sooner than he did for Venus." 

The fatal boast no sooner past 
Her lips, than she beheld, aghast, 
That Goddess known as not less great 
In power to punish than in hate, 340 

Who now exclaimed, " Presumptuous worm ! 
" Who, scarcely human in thy form, 
" Dar'st with the Queen of Gods compete, 
" Take at my hands a vengeance meet, 
" And learn how we of minds divine, 345 

" On human punishments refine. 
" Nor am I longer now content, 
" As formerly, my rage to vent ; 
61 'Twere nought on thy devoted head 
" With Jove's own bolt to strike thee dead ; 350 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 79 

" "Twere nought to bind thee to a rock 

" And leave thee to the rude waves' shock ; 

" For to the body are confined 

" Such pains : I now will wound the mind ; 

" And, since thy breast is known to feel 355 

" The throb of patriotic zeal, 

" Thou shalt repent thy boastings vain 

" Beneath the semblance of a Crane, 

" And lead thy foes to overwhelm 

" With ruin thy Pygmaean realm." 360 

As thus she spoke, before her face 
The metamorphosis took place, 
And the ill-fated quondam Queen, 
Impelled by some great force unseen, 
Instant on new-formed wings arose, 365 

And sought the country of her foes. 

Juno herself did not disdain 
A visit to the reigning Crane, 
And, having promised her support, 
Urged him to leave his river-fort 370 



80 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

And straight attack the Pygmy nation, 
Plunged, as it was, in consternation 

Who shall oppose, when Gods decide, 
The ebb and flow of human tide ? 
Not Bacchus' self more rapid way 375 

Made where the prostrate Indians lay, 
Than did the Cranes, elate with glory 
O'er the Pygmaean territory. 
And ever that mysterious bird, 
By some resistless impulse stirred, S80 

Moved in the thickest of the fight, 
Where, to the Goddess' great delight, 
She overthrew, in wild career, 
Her former friends and lovers dear. 
Not long th' unequal contest lasted, 385 

And when each ling'ring hope was blasted, 
The remnant of the Pygmy race, 
Scorning surrender as disgrace, 
Assembled in their sacred fane, 
(Though pious vows had long proved vain,) 390 



THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 8J 

And there resolving, one and all, 

Amidst their household gods to fall, 

Soon as they saw that deadly foe 

To whom they owed defeat and woe, 

Advancing onward from the porch, 395 

Fired many a hidden train and torch, 

And in one common ruin perished, 

With all that they most dearly cherished. 
Reader, it scarcely need be said, 

That Crane the foremost rank who led, 400 

And shared the fallen Pygmies' 1 fate, 

Was once the pillar of their state. 

And thus, (the same occurred at Troy 

From judgment of the shepherd boy,) 

That Juno's vengeance might be sated, 405 

A nation was annihilated ! 

What pity that the female breast, 
With ev'ry milder virtue blest, 

m 



82 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES. 

Should, when once poisoned by the sting 

Which wounded vanity will bring, 410 

Beat with revenge beneath the bodice 

Alike of mortal and of Goddess ! 






NOTES. 

LINE 1. 

In the vast ^Ethiopian waste 
By most geographers is placed — 
Pray, ask not how the/act they trace — 
The seat of the Pygmaan race. 

Pliny and Strabo both make considerable mention of my 
fabulous heroes. They do not perhaps quite bear me out in 
giving the preference, as to their place of residence, to Ethio- 
pia above all other countries : but I require the assistance of 
the Niger ; and as there is some show of authority for my 
so doing, I hope I may be allowed to establish my Pygmies 
near its banks. 



line 23. 

And if there be its truth who doubt, 
Philostratus must bear me out. 

Philostratus, although as an historian he is regarded as a 
" romancer," is very good authority for a fable ; and he men- 
tions the fact of Hercules having been attacked by the Pygmies 
somewhere in the deserts of Africa. — Icon. 2. c. 22. 



84 NOTES. 

LINE 27. 

When Hercules had done to death 
Anttfus, squeezing out his breath. 

Luean, Phar. lib. iv. beautifully describes the contest be. 
tween Hercules and Antaeus ; the former, after various efforts, 
discovers the means by which the strength of the latter is 
restored, and exclaims, 

" ' Standum est tibi," " et ultra 

" Non credere solo, sternique vetabere terra ; 
" Haerebis pressis intra mea pectora membris, 
" Hue Antaee cades/ Sic fatus, sustulit alte 
" Nitentem in terras juvenem ; morientis in artus 
" Non potuit nati Tellus summittere vires." 



LINE 33. 

As thus insensible lie lay, 

A Pygmy squadron passed that way. 

Libya, be it understood, is here meant for any part of Africa, 
and was so used by the ancients. The affair of Hercules with 
Antseus, according to Lucan, took place near the coast ; the 
goats and rams, therefore, which Pliny informs us were ridden 
by the Pygmies, must have had a long journey of it; but 
Philostratus is answerable for all these difficulties 



NOTES. &5 

LINE 43. 

Alcides by his club was known. 

Alcides, like other noble adventurers, had all sorts of 
equipments bestowed upon him by the Gods ; but is seldom 
represented with any other arms than the brazen club which 
was given him by Vulcan. 

line 63. 
Full twenty Pygmies fell around 
Slain or ungoated on the ground. 

Pliny, as I have before said, mounts the Pygmies on goats 
and rams. 

line 76. 
Grazing Alcides' goodly nose. 

By " goodly," I mean large. Sterne, in Slawkenbergius' tale, 
says, that the gentleman who created such a sensation 
amongst the good wives of Strasburg, "had been to the 
promontory of noses, and got himself a goodly one." 

line 159. 

Where the great Niger's waters glide 
In most inexplicable tide. 

The source of the Niger was totally unknown to the an- 
cients, and is only guessed at by the moderns. 



o« NOTES. 

LINE 223, 

And, manning with divided crews 

Of threes and fours these strange canoes. 

The fresco in the " Museo Borbonico," to which I here 
allude, represents Pygmies in boats of so extraordinary a 
shape, that it requires no great stretch of imagination to 
suppose them made of hollow pumpkins : but I have no 
other authority than my own fancy for the fact. 

line 275. 
But such attempts are not for me ; 
And, humbler than Matinian bee. 

Here, as well as in speaking of " Pindar's flood of song," I, 
of course, allude to Horace, 

" Monte decurrens velut amnis, imbres 
" Quem super notas aluere ripas, 
" Fervet, immensusque ruit profundo, 
" Pindarus ore." 

and again farther on, 

" Ego apis Matinae 

" More modoque 
tc Grata carpentis thyma per laborem 
" Plurimum, circa nemus uvidique 
" Tiburis ripas, operosa parvus 

" Carmina fingo." 



NOTES. 



87 



LINE 279. 

In which success by turns attended 
Those most whom most the Gods befriended. 
Homer, Iliad, lib. iii. seems to say that the Cranes had the 
advantage in these wars. 

KXayyrj rtztyz ffzrovrcu ivr '£lxiavo7o poaan, 

But, according to Pliny, the Pygmies must, at one time, 
have kept them in check; for he says that their cavalry, 
mounted on their rams and goats, used to march every spring 
to destroy the eggs of their enemies ; " aliter (as he adds) 
futuris gregibus non resisti.' T 

line 303. 
Gerana had, as I have said, 
Her armies oft to conquest led. 

Gerana was the name of the unhappy Queen of the Pygmies, 
to whom Ovid thus alludes, 

" Altera Pygmsese fatum miserabile matris 

" Pars habet ; hanc Juno, victam certamine, jussit 

w Esse gruem, populisque suis indicere bellum." 



LINE 349. 
5 Twere nought on thy devoted head 
With Jove's own bolt to strike thee dead. 



88 



NOTES. 



Juno alludes to the former punishments of her rivals, in 
order to show how she now chooses to refine upon them. 
Semele, owing to her, Juno's, cunning, was destroyed, it is 
well known, by "Jove's own bolt," though greatly against his 
will; for he prepared for the fatal embrace, " mcestissimus," 

; — :" immistaque fulgura ventis 



" Addidit, et tonitrus et inevitable fulmen." — Ovid. 

Andromeda's exposure on the rock, as we learn also from 
Ovid, was in consequence of her mother's having boasted 
herself fairer than Juno : 

" At non invidiam vobis Cepheia virgo est, 
" Pro male formosajussa parente mori." 

LINE 403. 

The same occurred at Troy 
From judgment of the shepherd boy. 

" Necdum etiam causae irarum ssevique doloris 

" Exciderant animo ; manet alta mente repostum 

" Judicium Paridis spretseque injuria formae." — Vir.iEn. 

And Homer, " passim," attributes the fall of Troy to the 
same cause. 



89 



MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 

How vain are human hopes and fears, 
Since to the distaff, thread, and shears, 
Which three decrepit women wield, 
E'en mighty Jove himself must yield ! 

Thus thought the heathen world ; and though 5 
Their reputation now is low, 
Althaea thought it quite an honour 
That the three sisters called upon her, 
And, mumbling toast and sipping caudle, 
In friendly gossip deigned to dawdle, 10 

Until Lucina's task was o'er 
And great iEtolia's heir she bore. 

E'en with that infant's first faint cry 
Was cast his future destiny ; 



90 MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 

Already had the youngest crone 15 

Who the great distaff calls her own, 

Raised it on high above her head 

That Lachesis might wind the thread ; 

These the observant mother knew 

The thread of man's existence drew, 20 

Yet, fearing whilst she longed to ask 

The issue of their present task, 

Spoke not a word, until she saw 

Fell Atropos now nearer draw, 

And, with her fatal shears in hand, 25 

Close to her sisters take her stand. 

Then, knowing instant death must wait 

Attendant on that eldest Fate, 

She wildly cried, " In mercy spare 

" A mother's hope, a nation's heir, 30 

" And let not Fame with one sole breath 

" Proclaim my firstborn's birth and death !" 

The hag, in whose time-wrinkled face 
'Twere vain to seek for pity's trace, 



MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 91 

With most contemptuous look replied ; 35 

" Thou seekest, then, to stem the tide 

" Of destiny, and change the hour 

" O'er which I scarce myself have power. 

" Well, be it so ; for once I can 

" Prolong the wretched life of man; 40 

" And, since thy prayer was made so soon, 

" From Atropos receive a boon, 

" Which shall hereafter, to thy bane, 

" Prove all thy present suff'ring vain. 

" See'st thou yon burning log? I 've sworn 45 

" Th' existence of the newly born 

" Shall on that senseless wood depend 

" And with its dying embers end. 

" Secure it and his life will be 

" In his own parent's custody." 50 

Althsea rose, the burning brand 
She rescued first with pious hand ; 
Unmindful then of threat so rude, 
She knelt in sign of gratitude 



92 MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 

To Atropos, that thus her son 55 

A safe and prosp'rous course must run. 

The sisters three, with smiles of scorn, 
Then wished the happy Queen " Good morn ;" 
And, for the present, so must I, 
For once consulting brevity. 60 

O'er Meleager's early youth 
I also quickly pass ; in truth, 
Its hisfry little yields to say 
Except that he was brave and gay, 
Excelling much in strength and grace, 65 

A very Nimrod in the chase. 
In course of time he left his home, 
With other noble youths to roam ; 
Returning next, an Argonaut 

Successfully the foes he fought, 70 

Who, at Diana's instigation, 
Attacked his father and his nation. 
Such facts I just, in passing, mention 
To prove him worthy of attention, 



MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 93 

That all with int'rest may proceed 75 

To hear his last, his fatal deed. 

But here, though much I love the chase, 
I 've not effrontery to face 
A line of country ridden o'er 

By better mounted man before. 80 

Ovid on Pegasus could clear 
Each fence that crossed his bold career, 
Which if I followed on my hack 
Would lay me sprawling on my back ; 
Whilst classic nose would curl with scorn, 85 

And, if not " children yet unborn," 
All those at least who read my lay, 
Would rue the hunting of that day. 
So, lest I stumble in a grip, 

Description of that hunt I skip, 90 

In which the great JEtolian scourge 
His dying force was seen to urge 
'Gainst the best sportsmen of the age, 
Who braved with his Diana's rage. 



94 MELEAGER AND ATALANTE; 

That mighty chase at length was o'er, 95 

And slain the Calydonian boar. 
The hunter-band, a noble crowd, 
Thronged eager round with clamour loud, 
And whilst they owned the nervous blow 
That laid the savage monster low 1 00 

And freed the country from alarm, 
Was dealt by Meleager's arm, 
Praised all and each some sep'rate aim, 
And to the slighter wounds laid claim, 
Whose purple proofs on prostrate foe 105 

Seemed tributary streams to flow, 
Joining the main ensanguined tide 
That bore the life-blood from his side. 

But why seems now the sylvan prize 
So dear in Meleager's eyes ? 110 

Is it from vanity alone 
The trophy at his feet is thrown, 
As though, with hunter's pride, to show 
His prowess o'er the grizzly foe ? 




Ex^rara} "by f Bromley. 



, \bbUshecL 1335, by R.B.entl&y, 3, New Burlington Street 



MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 95 

No, he has other views, for, see ! 11 5 

He yields it now with bended knee, 

To her whose arrow wounded first 

The monster as from brake he burst, 

Whose active form, throughout the chase, ' 

His watchful eye has loved to trace 1 20 

With admiration, yet alarm, 

Lest in rude sport she suffer harm. 

And can such trophy, then, impart 
One throb of joy to female heart ? 
Shall lovely woman's hand in blood 1 25 

Of slaughtered monster be imbrued ? 
Unmaidenly the taste ; and shame 
Must wait on Atalante's name, 
Though crowds of heroes sought her grace 
And perished in the fatal race. 130 

Like Dian of commanding height, 
In sylvan sports she takes delight ; 
Her light-clad limbs to view unfold 
The symmetry of Nature's mould, 



96 MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 

Where, like her prototype divine, 135 

Strength, fleetness, beauty, all combine. 

Perfect, though masculine, her face, 

But where is that retiring grace, 

That, shrinking from the stranger's gaze, 

Forms woman's best and dearest praise ? 140 

As foremost now amidst the throng, 

To grasp the prize she speeds along, 

What does that deepening glow bespeak 

That sudden rushes to her cheek ? 

Alas ! 'tis exultation's flush, 145 

And not that soft yet magic blush 

Which, charming him who sees it rise, 

Home to man's kindling bosom flies. 

But Meleager, it should seem, 
Deemed sentiment an empty dream ; 150 

Since he his vict'ry thus employed in 
Making fierce love to such a hoyden. 

A breach of taste which, we shall see, 

Was its own punishment to be. 



MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 97 

When he the chase's highest honour, 155 

As a love-gift, had lavished on her, 

The rest with envy seemed to burst, 

And his own uncle Toxeus first 

With loud voice shouted forth his claim, 

And, seeking not his rage to tame, 160 

Ere she could answer his demand, 

Snatched the head rudely from her hand. 

Such action's penalty he paid 
On earth by impious death-blow laid ; 
Plexippus' aid was all too late, 165 

He did but share his brother's fate ; 
Whilst Meleager sternly stood 
With hands in which his kindred's blood 
Was strangely mingled with the gore 
Of the less savage, slaughtered boar. 1 70 

The tidings of successful sport 
Meanwhile had reached iEtolia's court ; 



98 MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 

Althsea now in haste was seen, 

(That spoke the mother more than Queen,) 

Forth from the city's gates to run 1 75 

To welcome her triumphant son. 

But, ah ! what horrors did she prove 

To wither her maternal love. 

As thus she hastened, Rumour's breath 

Too truly told her brothers' 1 death, 1 80 

And she beheld on mournful bier 

Their murdered forms in proof appear. 

Then on the wretched sufTrer's breast 

A whirl of madd'ning torments pressed, 

As the two feelings chased each other 185 

Of pious sister, doting mother ; 

At length it was to justice' call 

She yielded, though her son must fall. 

With looks now pale, now deeply flushed, 

She to her secret chamber rushed, 190 

And seizing with demoniac air 

The brand long kept with pious care, 



MELEAGER AND ATALANTE. 99 

(Whilst the conviction came too late 

How baneful was that gift of Fate,) 

She flung it to the greedy flame 195 

Which rose to meet it as it came. 

But ere that flame could curl around, 

The mother sank upon the ground ; 

And when, awak'ning to her woes. 

With change of purpose she arose, 200 

And, stretching forth her trembling hand, 

Sought to preserve the fatal brand, 

To crumbling ashes it had passed, 

Althaea's son had breathed his last ! 

" Ne sutor ultra crepidam !" 205 

I really beg your pardon, Ma'am, 

In the first place, for quoting Latin 

To one who walks in silk and satin, 

And next, for having dared compare 

A cobbler with a lady fair ; 210 

But 'tis the truth, howe'er affronting, 

You leave your " last " when you go hunting. 



100 



NOTES. 

LINE 4. 

E'en mighty Jove himself must yield ! 

In the sixteenth book of the Iliad, Jupiter seeing his own 
son, Sarpedon, about to be slain by Patroclus, exclaims 

MoTg uwo Tlwr^oxXoio M&voiTiot,dao ^ufx^vat. 

and proceeds to consult Juno whether he shall make an 
attempt to rescue him from his fate. Her reply seems to 
imply her conviction of the utter uselessness of Jupiter's 
interference. 

Aivorecrt KgoviS'/i, noiov <rbv (avDov zittfts J 
"Avowee, flvwrov lovra vrdXai -TTiT^uf^ivov ulo"/i 
"At// \6tXas 6a,vd,<roto ^vo-^ios i^avaXverat ; 

And besides the difficulty of the matter, she represents to 
him that, even if he could rescue his son, it would be a bad 
precedent, asso many other Gods would wish to do the same 
for theirs. 



NOTES. 101 

LINE 9. 

And, mumbling toast and sipping caudle, 
In friendly gossip deigned to dawdle. 

I fear I should search in vain for authorities as to ' caudle ;' 
but I take it for granted that the old gossips, even of those 
ancient days, were in the habit of indulging in some com- 
fortable cordial on such occasions as that of Althaea's ac- 
couchement. 



line 25. 

And, with her fatal shears in hand, 
Close to her sisters take her stand. 

Ovid says that the Fates left Althaea before she had rescued 
the brand : 

" Quo postquam carmine dicto 
" Excessere Deae ; flagrantem mater ab igne 
" Eripuit torrem, sparsitque liquentibus undis ;" 

but, with all due deference to such authority, I conceive that 
a mother would not be deterred by their presence from pro- 
viding for her child's safety. The Fates (like any other ill- 
natured old women) would "smile with scorn" at the ex- 
cessive joy of Althaea on receiving a boon which they knew 
would cause her tenfold misery. 



102 NOTES. 

LINE 71. 

Who, at Diana's instigation, 
Attacked his father and his nation. 

Before she sent the Calydonianboar to avenge her neglected 
divinity, Diana had already incited the neighbouring nations 
against (Eneus. 

LINE 87. 

All those at least icho read my lay, 
Would rue the hunting of that day. 

allude to the old ballad of Chevy Chase : 

" And children yet unborn shall rue 
" The hunting of that day." 

LINE 93. 

'Gainst the best sportsmen of the age, 
Who braved with his Diana's rage. 

There never was a nobler " field " than that brought together 
on this memorable occasion. Ovid gives the names of those 
who composed it, and they comprehend almost all the worthies 
of the day, except Hercules, who was absent from Calydon 
in disgrace for having killed a man in a slight quarrel. The 
Calydonian boar, being the " infestas famulus vindexque 
Dianae," was assisted and protected by that Goddess through- 
out the chase. "Ferrum Diana volanti abstulerat jaculo." 
Ovid, Met. lib. vm. 



NOTES. 108 



LINE 117. 



To her whose arrow wounded first 
The monster as from brake he burst. 



Ovid says, 



" Celerem Tegsea sagittam 
" Imposuit nervo, sinuatoque expulit arcu. 
" Fixa sub aure feri summum destrinxit arundo 
" Corpus, et exiguo rubefecit sanguine setas. 
" Nee tamen ilia sui successu lsetior ictus, 
" Quam Meleagros erat. Primus vidisse pulatur, 
" Et primus sociis visum ostendisse cruorem, 
" Et ' meritum' dixisse ( feres virtutis honorem/ " 



line 137. 
Perfect, though masculine, her face. 

Ovid thus describes it, 

" Facies quam dicere vere 
" Virgineam in puero, puerilem in virgine posses." 

The whole description of Atalante indeed answers completely 
to that of Diana, even to the hair : 

" Crinis erat simplex, nodum collectus in unum." 



104 



NOTES. 



LINE 155. 

When he the chase's highest honour, 
As a love gift , had lavished on her. 

In spite of my determination to the contrary, I have here 
crossed Ovid's " line," as will be seen by any " gentleman 
sportsman " who will take the trouble to refer to the passage 
of the 8th Met. beginning 

" Illi laetitise est cum munere muneris auctor; 
" Invidere alii, totoque erat agmine murmur ;'' 

but such clashing was unavoidable, as it was necessary to make 
the catastrophe of my tale depend on Atalante's presence. 

LINE 203. 

To crumbling ashes it had passed, 
Althtea's son hud breathed his last ! 

Met. viii. 

" Crescunt ignisque dolorque ; 
" Languescuntque iterum, simul est extinctus uterque, 
" Inque leves abiit paulatim spiritus auras." 




.. : 



Bromley. 



■'■■ ' ;: "" 



105 



PAMPHILA, 

OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 

Although so gen'ral is the cry 
'Gainst female curiosity, 
If we would merely change the name, 
We should discover that the same 
Great impulse, in an active mind, 5 

Urges both man and womankind. 

It is this feeling which at college 
Is termed a noble thirst for knowledge, 
Bidding the pale-faced student pore 
O'er musty tomes of learned lore. 10 

A Newton, listfning to its call, 
Bade Nature's veil before him fall ! 



106 PAMPHILA, 

Consenting crowds on him confer 
The title of Philosopher. 

With great Columbus and with Cook 1 5 

The name of enterprise it took. 

New arts and new inventions yield 
Its vot'ries now a boundless field ; 
And we may thank it for the ease 
With which we triumph o'er the breeze, 20 

And, having, by the powers of steam, 
Surpassed the ancient poet's dream, 
Envy no more that bag of leather 
With which Ulysses ruled the weather. 

In short, though we sometimes detect 25 

In those of weaker intellect 
Its sad abuse, and find them vying 
With females in the art of prying, 
A thirst for knowledge is the root, 
In men, of many a great pursuit : 30 

In women 'tis less honoured — why ? 
Because we jealously deny 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 107 

To woman's quick inquiring spirit 

All proper stimulants to stir it ; 

We call her masculine or blue, 35 

If she attempts to struggle through 

The trammels o'er her education 

Thrown by us lords of the creation : 

And often an aspiring mind, 

By rig'rous custom, thus confined 40 

To ign'rance, worthy of a Vandal, 

Finds vent in prying and in scandal. 

And female curiosity 

Resembles, in its growth, a tree, 

Which, when we cut its upward shoot, 45 

Still grows luxuriant at the root. 

A lady (Pamphila by name) 

Of ancient Rome's patrician grade, 
A comely, gay, and married dame, 

Possessed a treasure of a maid ; 50 



108 PAMPH1LA, 

For none with Mysis could compare 

In the great art of dressing hair : 

Cosmetics too she understood, 

Knew what in ev'ry case was good, 

Incipient pimples oft detected, 55 

And with the nicest skill corrected, 

Removed that redness which the sting 

Of envious gnats will often bring, 

And, thanks to the judicious touch 

She gave her mistress's complexion, 60 

Her flatt'rers lied not quite so much, 

When they pronounced it all perfection. 
The art of Mysis shone no less 
In putting on the ancient dress, 
Which, void of buckram and " tournure," 65 

The modern belle's fictitious lure, 
Was made becoming by the taste 
With which its ample folds were placed ; 
Here some peculiar charm revealing, 
And there some slight defect concealing. 70 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 109 

Besides, this 6t cleverest of creatures " 

Knew what became each style of features, 

Saving her lady worlds of trouble 

In shopping, (though she charged her double,) 

And when her purchases she brought, 75 

With looks of great importance, home, 
One who had seen her, would have thought 

That she discussed the fate of Rome ; 
For if her dame, with pouting air 
And head averted, dared declare 80 

The girdle did not suit her quite, 
But was a shade too dark or light, 
She scrupled not to contradict her 

Without much show of due decorum, 
Declaring she with pains had picked her 85 

The nicest girdle in the Forum. 
And then to reconcile the matter 
She used the maid's best art — to flatter, 
And readily allowed, " 'twas true, 
" Few people could look well in blue ; 90 



HO PAMPHILA, 

" But then her lady's brilliant charms 
" Exempted her from such alarms ; 
M And authorized her in defying 
" Colours which others found so trying." 

Thus Mysis might be truly said 95 

To be a finished lady's-maid ; 
And then, besides these qualities, 

Had one her mistress prized no less : 
'Twas that of finding fresh supplies 

Each morning, at the hour to dress, 100 

Of that peculiar style of news 
Which never yet had failed t 1 amuse 
The leisure of the lisfning dame ; 
No matter whence the stories came, 
No matter who was implicated, 105 

Her love of scandal must be sated, 
And would have fed ona" faux pas " 
Told of her own great-grandmamma. 

The sequel of my tale will show 

Such gossiping oft leads to woe. 110 






OR THE FATAL TABLETS. Ill 

The lady Pamphila, like most 

Who on their dress spend time and cost, 

Was fond of showing off her graces 

At theatres and public places. 

Not so the dull patrician spouse 115 

Who had received her marriage vows ; 

For Lepidus'', that spoused, pate, 

Was full of the affairs of state, 

And though his wisdom thought it fit 

In the thronged senate oft to sit, 120 

Still, hating any other crowd, he 

Had rather seen his wife a dowdy, 

Than dressed for any gay excursion, 

For gaiety was his aversion. 

These diff ring tastes, in man and wife 125 

At first occasioned signs of strife 
Whenever he declined the honour 
Of duteously attending on her ; 
For such refusal hurt the pride 
Of Pamphila, a recent bride, 1 30 



112 PAMPHILA, 

Who, whether she was blessed or not, 

Wished to be envied in her lot, 

And therefore sought in face of day 

Her lord's devotion to display. 

But after some few months of marriage 135 

Quite altered was the lady's carriage , 

She now no longer teazed her lord 

To join the parties he abhorred, 

And he, well pleased to be. relieved 

From duty, (pompous fool !) believed 140 

His wife more fit than other dames 

To visit e'en Circensian games 

Free from her husband's scrutiny ; 

For pride will banish jealousy, 

And Lepidus's self-conceit 145 

Might with that modem lord's compete, 

"Who, married to a lovely creature 

W r ith passion glowing in each feature, 

Still thought that from mustachio'd phiz 

The simple fact of being his, 150 






OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 113 

However much he might neglect her, 

Was quite sufficient to protect her. 

But since 'tis possible to say, 

For once, what made a lady change, 

I now proceed to name the day 155 

When Pamphila began to range 

Through all the gaieties of Rome, 

And leave dull Lepidus at home. 

It chanced when once some words had passed, 
And the young wife had failed at last 160 

To coax her solemn husband out, 
That, with a pretty little pout, 
Her seat she at the Circus took 
And round her cast that sort of look 
That says, "I've suffered some vexation 165 

And should be glad of consolation ." 
Such consolation, in good sooth, 
She seemed to gather from the youth 
Who, though with hesitating air 
He had at first approached the fair, 170 



114) PAMPH1LA, 

Was soon established at her side 

In all a favoured gallant's pride. 

But who this gallant was 'twere well, 

Fair reader, that I now should tell. 

Before her marriage, be it known, 175 

Miss Paniphila had symptoms shown 

Of what is called a taste for flirting, 

Encouraging and then deserting 

A host of lovers, of whom none 

Had ever touched her heart but one. 180 

That one was Marcus, now before her, 

Who long had been her chief adorer. 

But then had come the splendid proffer 

Of wealth with Lepidus's offer, 

And, spite of Marcus 1 youth and beauty, 185 

Our flirt was taught that filial duty 

Should lead her to obey her mother 

And all her tender feelings smother. 
Such smothered flames again will glow 
Whenever well-timed breezes blow. 190 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 115 

These former lovers had, as yet, 

But seldom since her marriage met, 

And then, the husband being by, 

Had bowed most ceremoniously ; 

But chance (which oft assistance lends 195 

To Cupid's schemes,) now made amends 

For each uninteresting meeting 

By timing their embarrassed greeting 

Just as the lady's recent pique 

Had rendered those defences weak 200 

Whose charge is to exclude each guest 

Save one, from evry married breast. 

'Twould pass my humble skill to paint 
The gradual progress from constraint 
To the same language that, of old, 205 

These lovers had been wont to hold. 
At first, as Marcus made his bow, 
He stammered forth, he scarce knew how, 
Some broken comments on the race, 

The crowded Circus, or the weather, 210 



116 



PAMPHILA, 



Then, bolder grown, he took his place 

And talked of scenes they 'd passed together ; 

And, though fair Pamphila forbore 

In words her marriage to deplore, 

Her trembling tones, her long-drawn sighs, 21 5 

The soft expression of her eyes, 

Betrayed in language quite as plain 

That 'twas a sort of pleasing pain 

The recollections now to raise 

Of all those former happy days. 220 

In fact, the Circus" varied sport 

To both appeared extremely short, 

Upon that memorable day 

When Cupid reassumed his sway 

Over a bosom which the smile 225 

Of Plutus had seduced awhile. 

And when the games were at a close 

And they reluctantly arose, 

In passing from the seats above, 

The aiding and the aided hand, 230 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 117 

With mutual pressure, told of love 

Which prudence scarcely could command. 
Ye Gods ! what would not lovers do 
If, when such feelings thrill them through, 
They could, by magic art, be thrown 235 

Sudden on fitting spot, alone ! 
But servants at the Circus' gate 
(For Pamphila was fond of state,) 
All further signs of love prevented ; 
And of that pomp she now repented 240 

Which forced her with more distant air 
To thank young Marcus for his care ; 
Just adding, as she placed her veil, 
That she was seldom known to fail 
Her visits to the games to pay 245 

On each returning festal day. 

Such hint of course was not neglected, 
And, as might justly be expected, 
Their mutual passion stronger grew 
With each repeated interview, 250 



118 PAMPHILA, 

And virtue's outworks, one by one, 

As such defences oft have done, 

Before the young besieger fell, 

Until, at length, the citadel 

Capitulated, and the hour, 255 

The day and place for its surrender, 
Were fixed on by the vanquished power, 

With downcast looks and accents tender. 
That culpatory frown is vain, 

For tender accents I maintain, 260 

Sir Critic, better far become 
Than clang of trumpet and of drum, 
Those who in anirous warfare meet 
With what can scarce be called defeat. 
And since sighs, blushes, youthful charms, 265 

With tears and smiles compose the arms, 
And dimples are the only scars 
Allowed by Cupid in his wars, 
It surely would be strange enough 
If in his treaties he were rough. 270 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 119 

But, to resume my broken story, 
Our husband had a territory 
Near Tibur, at an easy ride 
From Rome, in which it was his pride 
When, as he said, he 'd time to spare 275 

From state affairs, to take the air. 
'Twas not that he had aught to do 

Or that he liked a country life ; 
But Cicero was wont, he knew, 

To leave sometimes forensic strife 280 

And all the town's severer duties, 
To taste awhile of Nature's beauties ; 
And he, a would-be statesman, thought 
That it, of course, importance brought 
To seem like Tully to require 285 

The country breezes to respire. 
E'en thus in August or September, 
Of either House some sleeping member, 
Who, in a long protracted session, 
Has not been guilty of expression 290 



120 PAMPHILA, 

Beyond the simple " ay" or " no," 

With, now and then, a " hear " or so ; 

E'en thus, I say, 'mongst country neighbours, 

Some wise distributor of franks, 
For freedom from St. Stephen's labours 295 

His fortune most devoutly thanks. 
Well, Pamphila, a certain day, 
When thus her lord would be away, 
For guilty rendezvous had fixed ; 
But, as the proverb says, betwixt 300 

The cup and lip there chances oft 
Some accident to spoil the draught ; 
And Lepidus, provoking man, 
That very morning changed his plan. 
Our lady's was an awkward plight, 305 

For Marcus' coming was quite certain, 
Soon as, that friend of lovers, Night, 

Should spread her sin-concealing curtain ; 
When, 'twas arranged, a gentle knock 
Should be her signal to unlock 310 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 121 

The garden door ; but, oh ! disaster 

Most fell ! her sapient lord and master 

Oft in that garden took delight 

To wander to and fro by night, 

To his unwilling wife relating 315 

The wisdom he was meditating ; 

And if he should the signal hear 

Intended for his lady's ear, 

He would proceed, without a doubt, 

The whole intrigue to puzzle out. 320 

What could be done ? She knew 'twere vain 

To seek abroad to meet her lover, 
For he had promised to remain 

At home, his ev'ning plans to cover. 
Then, as to seeing him at home, 325 

Not e'en degen'rate, modern Rome, 
Though in its morals somewhat loose, 
Allows of any fair excuse 
For ladies, in the face of day, 
Visits to single men to pay ; 330 



12£ PAMPHILA, 

And ancient Rome, it would appear, 

Was, in such points, far more severe. 

Her only plan was, then, to write ; 

But, readers fair, this was not quite 

For her so easy as for you, 335 

Whose little notes of varied hue 

Bring, like their parent rainbow, hope 

To lovers in an " envelope :" 

For, unlike them, her tablets 1 size 

Might chance to catch her husband's eyes, 340 

Who might demand their destination; 

Since, e'en in Pamphila's high station, 

'Twas not in those days customary 

For any lady's page to carry 

Some five-and- twenty notes a day, 345 

To say that she had nought to say. 

But now th' occasion was too pressing 
For farther doubt ; so, calling Mysis, 
She told her that, instead of dressing, 
She wished to write : such hint suffices 350 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 123 

For well-trained Abigails ; and though 

Mysis extremely longed to know, 

She did not ask what caused the change, 

But flew the tablets to arrange ; 

Then placed a seat and hovered near, 355 

With what intent will soon appear. 

Advice will nothing now avail 
The ancient heroine of my tale ; 
But, ladies, let the hint serve you : 
Had I been asked, I should have told her 360 

'Twas wrong to write a " billet-doux," 
With any one so near her shoulder. 

Mysis, (I must digress again,) 
To make my story still more plain, 
Mysis had wondered much of late 365 

To see her mistress"' altered state, 
And find that she who used of old 
To listen to each tale she told, 
Would never now attention pay 
To any scandal of the day ; 370 



124 PAMPHILA, 

But, at the mention of intrigue, 

Would either plead extreme fatigue 

And hasten quickly to her bed, 

To ease, she said, her aching head, 

Or silence sullenly impose 375 

On all such silly themes as those. 

But though, at first, she could not find 
A reason suited to her mind, 
After a time, our cunning maid 
To the right cause these symptoms laid ; 380 

Concluding that a person who 
Such curiosity had shown 
To others' loves to gain the clue, 
Must now have secrets of her own, 
Whose overpow'ring interest 385 

Sufficed to occupy her breast, 
And leave no time or inclination 
For such, her former, occupation. 
But, having come to this conviction, 
Conceive the Abigail's affliction 390 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 1£5 

To find her efforts all were vain 

Her lady's confidence to gain. 

'Twas useless, when she heard her sigh, 

To raise a sympathizing eye, 

Which said as plain as look could say, 395 

u My dearest Ma'am, the only way 

44 To ease the troubles of your heart, 

" Is just those troubles to impart." 

For Pamphila would turn aside 

Her blushes or her sighs to hide, 400 

Or give the handmaid her dismission 

To execute some slight commission. 

Her pride and curiosity 
Thus piqued at once, made Mysis try 
All means the secret to detect, 405 

As yet, indeed, without effect ; 
But then she knew such secrets must 
At length be known, and so the maid 
Resolved the mistress'' want of trust 
Should in the end be dearly paid. 410 



126 PAMPHILA, 

With what a thrill, then, of delight 

She watched her thoughtless victim write 

As follows : " Marcus will believe 

"How much his Pamphila must grieve 

M To tell him that her hateful spouse 415 

" His country journey has deferred ; 

" And that the interchange of vows 

" Which Cupid should this night have heard, 

" Must be postponed until to-morrow, 

" When Lepidus, to end our sorrow, 420 

" Will, without fail, at break of day, 

" For Tibur take his wonted way. 

" I tremble lest these tablets fail 

" As timely warning to avail ; 

" Write then, I beg, some brief reply 425 

" That I may know tranquillity. 

" Adieu ! what now seems adverse chance 

u The joys of meeting will enhance, 

" When we, at length, our vows renew. 

" Adieu ! a thousand times adieu !" 430 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 127 

A slave was summoned to receive 
The fatal tablets from her hand, 
When, thinking that she could perceive 
Mysis in list'ning posture stand, 
Her mistress bade her leave the room, 435 

A simple act which sealed her doom, 
Destroying quite each kinder feeling 
Which might prevent a maid's revealing 
To him most injured by the fact 
Her lady's meditated act. 440 

Th' indignant Mysis sought her lord 
With proofs so damning to afford, 
That even he, who scarce believed 
That he could ever be deceived, 
Or that his wife with his could dare 445 

Another's merit to compare, 
Was forced to yield a faith implicit 
To circumstances so explicit. 

In Lepidus what feeling now 
Has prompted that vindictive vow ? 450 



128 PAMPHILA, 

Tis pride and injured pride alone, 
For jealousy must needs disown 
A cold and calculating breast 
Where love has never been a guest. 

See ! he the trembling slave forgives ; 455 

But, mark the terms on which he lives ! — 
His treachery must lend its aid 
To the deep scheme of vengeance laid. 

The unconscious wife could scarcely fail 
With joy that messenger to hail 460 

When he, with signs of secrecy, 
Gave, as from Marcus, this reply. 

" Dearest ! these hasty words I write 
" To free thy bosom from alarms : 
" I yield to adverse fate to-night ; 465 

" To-morrow thou shalt bless mine arms !F 

Her load of apprehension gone, 
The world around more, brightly shone 
For Pamphila, nor did she mark 
Aught more than usually dark 470 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 1£9 

On Lepidus' contracted brow 

Which often bore such looks as now ; 

For in th' habitual expression 

Of those who make a great profession 

Of consequence or information 475 

Beyond their real wit or station, 

Tis hard to tell, from brow and eyes. 

If they would angry look, or wise. 
Her " billet-doux's" supposed success 

Inspired in Pamphila no less 480 

A thrill of self-congratulation 
When came the looked-for invitation, 
To join her husband's eVning walk 
A.nd listen to his solemn talk. 

'Twas no slight task for Lepidus 485 

In wonted manner to discuss 
His pompous nothings, whilst his soul 
Of vengeance felt the dire control. 
But vain indeed was all his fear 
That his changed manner should appear, 490 



ISO PAMPHILA, 

For to such themes his youthful wife 

Ne'er paid attention in her life : 

And if she now remarked his voice, 

'Twas, for a moment, to rejoice 

That the same overhanging boughs 495 

Would, with the morrow's happier eve, 

The echo of her Marcus 1 vows, 

Instead of that dull voice, receive. 

At length, as though some train of thought 
The fact had to his niem'ry brought, 500 

Her husband suddenly exclaimed, 
" I ought indeed to be ashamed 
" Of having quite forgot, my dear, 
" To say that Crassus will be here 
44 To sup with us this very night ; 505 

" Since, I am sure, 'tis with delight 
44 You hear so sage a senator 
64 Discussing the affairs of Rome ; 
44 So pri'thee listen at that door, 
44 'Tis past the hour when he should come, 510 



OR THE FATAL TABLETS. 1-31 

" And I requested him, if late, 

" To enter by the garden gate. 

" Hark ! now, methinks, I hear him knock : 

" Do, hasten to withdraw the lock.'' 1 

Another thrill of joy then came 515 

Across the bosom of the dame, 
As she the bolt obedient drew ; 
Joy, that her husband little knew 
What an unwelcome guest he might 
Have thus commanded to his sight, 520 

Bidding his guilty wife discover, 
In Crassus' place, her youthful lover. 
But, as the portal open flies, 

Great Gods ! what form now meets her eyes ? 

Tis Marcus' self ! a moment's space 5%5 

He folds her in his close embrace ; 

A moment, for before her cry 

Can warn him of a danger nigh, 

A well-directed, vengeful blow 

Has laid the hapless lovers low, 530 



PAMPHILA. 

And Lepidus, with stern delight, 
Is gazing on the bloody sight. 

Ladies, with secrets to conceal, 
Encourage not your maids to prattle ; 

You sharpen for yourselves the steel, 535 

For those must pry who tittle-tattle. 



133 



NOTES. 



LINE 51. 



For none with My sis could compare 
In the great art of dressing hair. 

Ovid, who is great authority in all such matters, alludes 
frequently to the art of dressing hair as being of the very 
greatest importance. He thus praises Nape, a lady's-maid, for 
her skill in that particular : 

" Colligere incertos, et in ordine ponere crines 

" Docta, neque ancillas inter habenda, Nape." 



line 53. 
Cosmetics too she understood. 

In a short fragment called " Medicamina faciei," Ovid gives 
different receipts for cosmetics, and puffs them like a modern 
advertiser : 

" Quaecumque adficiet tali medicamine vultum, 
" Fulgebit speculo levior ipsa suo ;" 



134 NOTES. 

and again, he recommends another for spots and blotches : 
" Addita de querulo volucrum medicamina nido 
" Ore fugant maculas : Halcyonea vocant." 

lixe 59. 
And, thanks to the judicious touch 
She gave her mistress's complexion. 

The third book, " De arte amandi," contains the most mi- 
nute instructions for ladies' toilets. Apropos to their paint- 
ing Ovid says : 

" Scitis et inducta candorem quaerere cera, 

" Sanguine quae vero non rabet, arte rubet " 

He also most judiciously recommends that paint should be 
laid on sparingly : 

" Non tamen expositas mensa deprendat amator 
" Pyxidas, ars faciem dissimulata juvat. 

" Quern non offendat toto faex illita vultu, 

" Cum fiuit in tepidos pondere lapsa sinus !" 

BIXE 63. 

The art of My sis shone no less 
In putting on the ancient dress, 
Which, void of buckram and tournure. 

Ovid is so minute in his account of the little aids of art to 
which the Roman ladies resorted to adorn their persons, that, 



NOTES. 135 

had there been any such article as a "tournure" in use, he 
would undoubtedly have mentioned it. He admonishes the 
ladies to study their figures, and to make the most of them by 
the judicious disposal of their dress: 

" Quae nimium gracilis pleno velamina filo 

" Sumat, et ex humeris laxus amictus eat;" 
and again: 

" Conveniunt tenues scapulis analectides altis, 
" Inflatum circa fascia pectus eat." 

This sounds very much like a pair of stays ; but I do not 
think any mention can be found of aught resembling that 
abominable falsehood, " a bustle." 

LINE 79. 

For if her dame, with pouting air 
And head averted, dared declare 
The girdle did not suit her quite, 
But was a shade too dark or light. 

The figures represented in the fresco to which these lines 
allude, are Grecian, and my story is Roman; but that is not 
the only anomaly of which I am here guilty : for the learned 
give a very different account of the painting, and say that its 
subject is either Phaedra and her nurse, Penelope and her 
servant, or some other person receiving very serious advice. 
The object under the arm of the standing figure is, at all 



136 NOTES, 

events, a band or girdle, and I take the liberty of supposing 
that person to be in the act of discussing its merits. Is not 
dress sometimes a very serious subject with the fair sex ? 
Girdles were worn by the Roman ladies, as we learn from 
divers authorities. Martial wrote an epigram on one belong- 
ing, I should suppose, to a lady of somewhat doubtful virtue : 

l< Longa satis nunc sum ; dulci sed pondere venter 
" Si tumeat, flam tunc tibi zona brevis." 

With respect to the choice of colours for the various parts 
of the dress, Ovid says : 

" Quot nova terra parit flores, cum, vere tepenti, 
" Vitis agit gemmas, pigraque cedit hiems, 

" Lana tot aut plures succos bibit ; elige certos, 
" Nam non conveniens omnibus omnis erit." 

line 119. 
And though his wisdom thought it Jit 
In the thronged senate oft to sit. 

The senate was convened in various places ; often in tem- 
ples, such as that of Jupiter Stator, Apollo, Mars, &c. &c. 
These temples, if we may judge by those which remain, were 
not very large ; and as, in the time of Julius Caesar, the senate 
consisted of one thousand members, and it required at least 
four hundred to " make a house/' there must have been con- 
siderable crowding on any great occasion. 



NOTES. ] 37 

LINE 142. 

To visit e'en Circensian games. 
Free from her husband's scrutiny. 

Ovid pitches upon the " Circus maximus " as the place 
best calculated for the commencement and conducting of an 
intrigue, in his 2nd El. of the 3rd Amorum, beginning, 

" Non ego mobilium sedeo studiosus equorum ; 

" Cui tamen ipsa faves, vincat ut ille precor i 
" Ut loquerer tecum veni, tecumque sederem 

" Ne tibi non notus, quern facis, esset amor.*' 

He then goes on to describe the numerous " petits soins " 
which may there be brought into play. 



line 272. 

Our husband had a territory 
Near Tibur. 

Tibur and its neighbourhood abounded in villas, in ancient 
as in modern days. Horace thus classes it with two other 
favourite places of resort : 

" Seu mihi frigidum 
" Prseneste, seu Tibur supinum, 

" Seu liquids placuere Baiae." 



138 NOTES, 

That poet had himself a villa in or near the town, to which 
he made constant excursions : 

" Romse Tibur amem ventosus, Tibure Romam." 



line 279. 
But Cicero was wont, he knew. 
To leave sometimes forensic strife. 

If we were to credit those modern pests who degrade the 
name of Rome's great orator, Cicero must have had a villa in 
almost every town in Italy. We know from his own writings 
that he had several, some of which he describes with great 
pomposity. 



line 339. 

For, unlike them, her tablets size 
Might chance to catch her husband's eyes. 

The waxen tablets on which familiar notes were written 
must have been of considerable size, for it seems, from the 
following passage in Ovid, Am. lib. 1. El. xii. that the wax 
was spread on wood : 

" Ite hinc difficiles, funebria ligna, tabellse, 
" Tuque negaturis cera referta notis." 



NOTES. 139 



LINE 360. 



Had I been asked, I should have told her 
' Twas wrong to write a " billet-doux" 
With any one so near her shoulder. 

There is no disputing the nature of the expression of 
the second figure in the annexed fresco; her countenance 
betrays a most decided feeling of female curiosity in a high 
state of excitement. 




_AA 






i :- Publ 



141 



BACCHUS AND AESCULAPIUS. 

Now at the midnight revel seen, 

And now in field of battle gory, 
Great Bacchus wavered much between 

His love of wine and love of glory. 
He was the first to introduce 5 

'Mongst Gods and men, the purple juice, 
And, in the laudable intention 
Of honouring his own invention, 
(The fate of mortals oft is such,) 
Was apt to take a cup too much. 10 

In time this habit of excess 
Arrived at downright drunkenness, 
And now and then the God was found 
A senseless lump upon the ground, 



142 BACCHUS AND ESCULAPIUS. 

Where it was passing strange to see 15 

So great a conqueror as lie, 

Without the semblance of a blow, 

So ignoniiniously laid low 

E'en by the cups himself had plied, 

Like any other suicide. 20 

Such scenes failed not to scandalize 
Some of the squeamish Deities ; 
And Bacchus, to his shame and sorrow, 
Once on a drunken revel's morrow, 
With trembling knees and aching head 25 

Before his angry father led, 
Was, in full council, sharply rated 
For having, when intoxicated, 
Shocked the fastidious Dian's ear 
By ribald jest and mocking jeer. SO 

Of course, what Jove declared was wrong 
Was censured by th' obsequious throng 
Of minor Deities, and, though 
There 's good authority to show 







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- ~PiJ?7Lshe£,18S>5,~bi \ -Iv,/ 2? 



BACCHUS AND jESCULAPIUS. 1 48 

That many had been seen to share 35 

The joys of Bacchanalian fare, 

They all, to wound the culprit's pride, 

Their presence at his feasts denied. 

'Twas thus " the jolly God of Wine," 

Unused in solitude to pine, 40 

Was forced, as well as he was able, 

With meaner guests to fill his table. 

And, as Silenus was his " vice," 

His parties were not over nice, 

For dancing Faun and grinning Satyr 45 

There reeled amidst the drunken clatter, 

With red-haired, ivy-crowned Bacchante, 

In girdle loose and garments scanty. 

But, whilst the great Olympic court 
With due disgust beheld such sport, 50 

One of their number with delight 
Marked the delinquent's fev'rish plight, 
Expecting very soon to gain 
Some profit by the drunkard's pain. 



144 BACCHUS AND JDSCULAPIUS. 

That one was iEsculapius, 55 

Who, though with mighty pains and fuss 

His high diploma he had taken, 

By patients sadly was forsaken. 

'Tis true, he had Jove's leave to practise, 

But, hitherto, the real fact is 60 

That Gods above had scarce a notion 

Of benefit from pill or potion. 

Though now his eager expectation 

Of profit in his grave vocation, 

Thanks to this system of excess, 65 

Was very soon to find success. 

Bacchus, one morning, after more 
Than usual wine the night before, 
With staring eyes and visage haggard, 
Walked early forth, or rather staggered, 70 

To court the all-refreshing breeze 
Amidst a fav'rite grove of trees. 
In ev'ry former drunken case 
He had been able, thus, to chase 



BACCHUS AND .ESCULAPIUS. 145 

The floating vapours of the wine 75 

And reassume his look divine, 

In time to join the courtly bevy 

That waited at the Thund'rer's levee. 

But now such efforts all were vain, 

Each moment added to his pain ; 80 

His staring eyeballs round and round 

Revolved and still no object found, 

And, clinging to a friendly beech, 

He stammered, " Would I had a leech !" 

The Doctor God who hovered near, 85 

Failed not that instant to appear ; 
And Bacchus, taken at his word, 
By art consenting to be cured, 
Was thus, to ease his aching head, 
The first immortal ever bled ! 90 

A night consumed in revelry 
Will oft entail a morning fee 



146 



NOTES. 

LINE 5. 

He was the first to introduce 

'Mongst Gods and men, the purple juice. 

Some say that Bacchus was not the inventor of the use of 
the grape ; but I have at least Virgil's authority on my side, 
who says, Geor. i. 

" Vos, o clarissima mundi 
" Lumina, labentem coelo quae ducitis annum, 
" Liber et alma Ceres, vestro si munere tellus 
" Chaoniam pingui glandem mutavit arista 
" Poculaque inventis Acheloia miscuit uvis." 



LINE 45. 

For dancing Faun and grinning Satyr 
There reeled amidst the drunken clatter, 
With red-hawed, ivy-crowned Bacchante, 
In girdle loose and garments scanty. 

There are almost as many frescos as written authorities 
illustrative of the sort of company Bacchus was, sometimes, 
in the habit of keeping. Horace says, 



NOTES. 147 

" Bacchum in remotis carmina rupibus 
" Vidi docentem, credite posteri, 
" Nymphasque discentes, et aures 

" Capripedum Satyrorum acutas." 

And Ovid, Fast. lib. iii. v. 730, says, 

" Ibat arenoso Satyris coraitatus ab Hebro." 

And farther on, 

" Fcemineos thyrso concitat ille choros." 
In his Met. lib. iv. addressing Bacchus, he says, 

" Tu bijugum pictis insignia fraenis 
a Colla premis lyncum : Bacchae Satyrique sequuntur, 
" Quique senex ferula titubantes ebrius artus 
" Sustinet." 

LINE 58. 

By patients sadly was forsaken. 

I, of course, only allude to his celestial practice; since, 
when on earth, he had pursued his calling with so much 
success that Pluto complained to Jupiter of the depopulation 
of the infernal regions ; and the latter, at his brother's instiga- 
tion, struck the successful doctor dead with lightning. Pluto 
would scarcely make a similar complaint of " the faculty " 
of the present day; which learned body, like the anger of 
Achilles, sends many a soul to hell before its time. JEscu- 
lapius was afterwards made a God and pardoned, it would 
seem, by Jupiter, since Ovid speaks of their respective tem- 
ples as being situated near each other : 



148 



NOTES. 



" Accepit Phcebo Nymphaque Coronide natum 
" Insula, dividua quam premit amnis aqua : 

" Jupiter in parte est, cepit locus anus utrumque, 
" Junctaque sunt magno templa nepotis avo." 

Virgil, Mn. lib. vii. v. 773, says, that, enraged at seeing Hip- 
polytus restored to life , Jupiter 

" Ipse repertorem medicinae talis et artis 

" Fulmine Phoebigenam Stygias detrusitad undas." 

line 83. 
And, clinging to a friendly beech, 
He stammered, " Would I had a leech .'" 

The preceding fable was suggested by my recollection of 
a painting in the house of Meleager at Pompeii, which recol- 
lection I have subsequently discovered to have been erroneous 
in two very material points. In the first place, it is a pillar, 
not a tree, which supports the leaning figure ; and, in the 
second place, the figure itself, instead of being that of a 
drunken Bacchus, represents a Bacchante. Thus the whole 
idea of my-fable, as far as it depends upon the wall, falls to 
the ground ; but as authorities written, drawn, and sculp- 
tured, are never wanting for the debaucheries of the God of 
wine, I have, though unsupported by the Pompeian artist, 
taken the liberty with Bacchus and mythology, of supposing 
him to have been the first of the Gods who became the 
patient of /Esculapius. 



J 49 



FLORA. 

'Twas in the genial month of May, 
Just at the witching fall of day, 
When, in the deeper, warmer glow 
That Phoebus 1 setting beams bestow, 
His wish to linger we may trace, 5 

Like parting lovers'" last embrace : 
'Twas also in a fertile land 
Which seemed to own her influence bland, 
That lovely Flora left her bower 
To seek that modest ev'ning flower 10 

Which, she well knew, would open soon 
Those beauties to the silv'ry moon 
That, wrapt in close concealment, lay 
During the glaring light of day : 



150 



FLORA. 



E'en as some maidens veil their blaze 15 

Of beauty from the common gaze ; 

But all their charms and warmth discover, 

In secret, to some favoured lover. 

As Flora trod the verdant plain 
In haste the Cerus to obtain, £0 

The balmy breath of ev'ning's breeze 
That rustled in the yielding trees, 
Caught her light garments, and their swell, 
To fertile Fancy's eye, might well 
Appear to lend its ready aid 25 

To the swift motion of the maid ; 
Whilst she, by such gay sail propelled, 
Seemed, as her airy course she held, 
The loveliest bark that e'er was seen 
To skim a mimic ocean's green. 30 

But little thought the light-clad fair 
To whom she owed such fav'ring air ; 
Else had she, doubtless, felt alarm 
As, in her flight, each youthful charm 



FLORA. 151 

Was bared before th' impassioned gaze 35 

Of one who, though unseen, could raise, 
Assisted by his subject gale, 
Her envious drap'ry's floating veil. 

'Twas Zephyr's self, the pride of all 
The dwellers in iEolian hall, 40 

Who now, thus secretly, pursued 
A nymph whom he had vainly wooed, 
Whenever in the spangled mead 
He 'd sought his am'rous cause to plead ; 
Since there it pleased her more to rove 45 

And cull the treasures newly sprung, 
Than listen to a tale of love 
Though by immortal suitor sung. 
For Flora, being young and coy, 
As yet knew nothing of the joy 50 

The tender passion can bestow 
On those who once have felt its glow ; 
And, hitherto, her virgin breast 
By garlands only had been pressed ; 



15& FLORA. 

Although by nature formed to prove 55 

The warm yet marble shrine of love. 

Thus beauty's gifts are oft disgraced 

Or ignorantly thrown to waste, 

And I have seen a fair one kiss 

Some pet, unconscious of its bliss, 60 

With lips whose touch to me had given 

The Moslem's promised joys of heaven. 

Mean time the nymph her rapid course 
Directed to a streamlet's source, 
Where, as its limpid fount she neared, 65 

Behold ! the Cerus plant appeared ; 
Displayed as though before her eyes, 
Acknowledging her sov'reign power, 
It sought to spread, in duteous guise, 
The cherished beauties of its flower. 70 

Such homage Flora, with delight, 
Hailed as the ofT'ring of the night, 
And seizing on the prize, in haste 
Its dew-distilling blossoms placed, 




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FLORA. 153 

Where with the sweets of day they vied, 75 

Her fragrant garland's latest pride. 
Thus simply, gracefully employed, 

Beauty, of ornament devoid, 

More surely strikes than when arrayed 

In pomp of art, with gems displayed. 80 

And Zephyr, as with pinion light 

He hovered near the maiden bright, 

Now felt that e'en an humble flower, 

Adjusted by her lovely hand, 

Had o'er his feelings greater power 85 

Than Juno's sceptre could command. 

When, therefore, on a mossy bank 

O'erhung by myrtle bower she sank, 

He sought some method to devise 

To bid her latent passion rise, 90 

By former failure being taught 

That she was only to be caught 

By being at some moment wooed 

When predisposed to loving mood. 



154 FLOBA. 

And now upon her breast of snow 95 

He bade his gentlest breezes blow, 
Charged highly with the rich perfume 
Of the surrounding myrtle bloom. 

Full oft has such a balmy breath 
(Although not Upas-like, with death,) 100 

Been found with danger to be laden 
To the strict virtue of a maiden ; 
For with its faint, though fragrant smell, 
It seconds Cupid's arrows well ; 
And just that lassitude produces 105 

Which girdles first, then morals looses. 

'Twas thus a soft, an unknown feeling, 
O'er Flora's languid senses stealing, 
Caused her to heave the frequent sigh 
And feel oppressed she knew not why, 110 

But he, the wily Zephyr, knew, 
Who, veiled as yet from Flora's sight, 
Was watching, as he nearer drew, 
Such growing languor with delight. 



FLORA. 155 

Nor was his triumph long delayed ; 115 

For, now, as the unconscious maid, 

In vain by change of posture tried 

To ease her palpitating breast, 

The hand that, as she turned aside, 

Seemed listless on the turf to rest, 1 £0 

Sudden a gentle pressure felt, 

And, lo ! before her eyes, there knelt 

A youth whose passion scarce could fail 

At such a moment to prevail. 

For he whose breath could charm the sense, 125 

Breathed also love's soft eloquence ; 

And, since the startled Flora's brows 

No longer darkened at his vows, 

When now his passion, gaining strength, 

Emboldened him to add, at length, 130 

To mild persuasion, gentle force, 

He gained the wished-for boon, of course. 

I say, of course, for maids or wives 

Who have been virtuous all their lives, 



156 



FLORA. 



But, by some luckless chance, discover, 135 

Like Flora, such an ardent lover, 

At such befitting time and place 

Brought suddenly before their face, 

If urged by secret inclination, 

Seldom resist the strong temptation. 140 

But peccadillos which, at night, 
Give yielding maidens great delight, 
Alas ! are often, on the morrow, 
Productive of repentant sorrow. 
Well, then, might Flora weep forlorn 145 

When Zephyr, with the coming morn, 
Took, from her side, his rapid way 
To visit other climes by day. 
For, though he promised that, at eve, 
His charmer should again receive, 150 

Beneath the conscious myrtle boughs, 
A repetition of his vows, 
Still, through the hours that as they passed 
Seemed each more tedious than the last, 






FLORA. 



157 



The nymph, no longer innocent, ] 55 

Was left her errors to repent. 

But, whilst her tears in torrents fell, 

He must have known the sex full well 

Who durst declare if most she grieved 

At having been to sin deceived, 160 

Or if her present cause of pain 

Rose from the wish to sin again. 

Whiche'er the case, her stormy grief 
In mode so boist'rous found relief, 
That Zephyrs brother, Boreas, 165 

Heard, as he chanced that way to pass, 
(Spite of the noise his breezes made,) 
Such words as "innocence betrayed," 
And " force 'gainst helpless virgin used," 
And " virtue lost," and "love abused," 170 

Mingled with which complaints there came 
The gay deceiver's well-known name. 

Now had the fault been any other's 
Instead of his own younger brother's, 



158 



FLORA. 



It would not have appeared so great, 175 

And Flora might have wept her fate, 

Nor found so complaisant and kind 

The ruler of the northern wind. 

But Gods and men, on such occasions, 

Are fond of blaming their relations, 1 80 

Holding no privilege so dear 

As that which bids them interfere ; 

And, to this impulse, must be laid 

The promise now by Boreas made, 

When, though well known for manners rude, 185 

And seldom in a melting mood, 

He seemed to pity Flora's case 

And, straightway, stood before her face 

With looks the most composed and bland 

His blusfring nature could command ; 190 

And, with a softened voice and air, 

Thus hastened to address the fair ; 

" Cease, injured Flora, to complain, 

" All farther signs of grief were vain, 



FLORA. 159 

" Since they already touch his heart 195 

" Who can the promptest aid impart. 

" Learn, then, that Boreas stands before you, 

" And will to happiness restore you ; 

u For Zephyr who has caused your tears, 

" In me an elder brother fears ; 200 

"And since it seems he proffered vows, 

" I swear that he shall be your spouse, 

" And make the matter up with marriage, 

fcC That none your fame may e^r disparage." 

As Boreas spoke, with glad surprise £05 

Poor Flora raised her weeping eyes ; 
But ere with thanks she could reply, 
Swifter than thought, her new ally 
By his own stormy breeze propelled, 
His course to Tempe's valley held, £]0 

And found his brother there disporting, 
And in the very act of courting 
Another nymph, to whom he plighted 
The self-same vows so lately slighted. 



16.0 



FLORA. 



Now, though those simple words "you must" 215 
Are very apt to breed disgust, 
And Zephyr, it may be supposed, 
Was not by any means disposed 
To be compelled to take a wife, 
Still, knowing, in the threatened strife, 220 

That all his efforts needs must fail 
Against his brother's stronger gale, 
He thought it best, in such a case, 
To yield the matter with good grace, 
And therefore, cunningly, pretended 225 

That having all along intended 
Flora that very night to wed, 
He merely had to Tempe sped 
Amidst its damsels to provide 
Some fit attendants for his bride. 230 

Though Boreas not one word believed 
Of Zephyr's palpable invention, 
He wisely feigned himself deceived 
And praised such delicate attention. 



FLORA. 161 

'Twere wrong, he said, that wedded bliss 235 

Should be withheld from love like his, 
And swore that very night should be 
The first of his felicity. 

The thing resolved, no time was lost, 
For weddings then slight trouble cost ; 240 

No cunning harpies of the law 
Were paid the settlements to draw, 
No priestly services were read 
When Zephyr was to Flora wed, 
But Cupid gave the nymph away, 245 

With an arch smile, to Hymen's sway ; 
(Conscious that e'en the Gods above 
When married often ceased to love ;) 
And Hymen, pleased with present power, 
Thought little of the future hour, 250 

But joyous waved his torch on high 
The mystic rite to sanctify ; 
Whilst nymphs, in chorus, filled the air 
With praises of the happy pair. 



162 FLORA. 

And happy, for the time at least, 9.55 

They seemed to those who graced the feast ; 
For Zephyr, who again was fired 
By seeing Flora much admired, 
Proud that the beauty of the hour 
Was destined for his nuptial bower, 260 

Seemed to look forward with delight 
To the approaching joys of night, 
And with a glance of passion eyed 
The lovely creature at his side ; 
Whilst she, who only knew too well 9Q5 

The tale such glance was meant to tell, 
Beneath the bridegroom's kindling eye 
Blushed with such seeming modesty, 
That most of those who saw th 1 effect, 
The cause unable to suspect ? 270 

Gave, knowing nothing of her story, 
To virgin innocence the glory. 

Not so the youthful God of day ; 
He, with that penetrating ray 



FLORA. 163 

Which Mars and Venus found, of old, 275 

Was apt such secrets to unfold, 

Was soon enabled to discover 

That Flora, as a yielding lover, 

Already had those transports known 

Which should be felt by wives alone ; 280 

And, arguing thence that as a wife, 

When somewhat tired of married life, 

She was not likely to repel 

Another's suit, if pleaded well, 

He marked her as an easy prey 285 

For conquest on some future day. 

Some say 'tis quite unfair to bound 
All married joys to one short round 
Of that mysterious orb of night 
Whose very rays of doubtful light 290 

Seem inspirations from above 
Prompting the world below to love : 
Yet one who with the infant moon 
First tastes of love's long wished for boon, 



164 FLORA. 

And finds the pleasure of the feast 295 

E'en with the crescent's self increased ; 

If, by sad chance, the full now passed, 

His former ardour does not last, 

And he, in manner grown less kind, 

His wife's too frequent passion scorns, 300 

May, haply, to his sorrow, find 

Fit emblems in the waning horns. 

Zephyr who, restless as the gale 
Which loves to range from hill to dale, 
Had ever led a roving life, 305 

Was not long constant to his wife ; 
But, ere the honeymoon was spent, 
Again his course to Tempe bent, 
In search of her from whom his brother 
Had borne him off to wed another. 310 

No sooner was the husband flown 
And Flora left to mope alone, 
Than Phoebus took his hurried way, 
Although long past the usual hour, 



FLORA. 



165 



As if his compliments to pay 315 

To the young couple in their bower. 

" Great Jove !". he cried, with feigned surprise, 

" Can I, indeed, believe my eyes ; 

'' And is the lord of such a treasure 

" One moment absent, when both pleasure 320 

" And duty here at once combine 

" To make his nuptial bower divine ? 

" By Styx I swear, that, were those charms 

" Once placed within my longing arms, 

" And were I called from them away 325 

" To take my empire o'er the day, 

" The world might blunder on in night 

" Ere I would mount the car of light !" 

'Tis but too true, that words like these 
Are found sometimes the fair to please ; 330 

And Flora's eye, as then she listened, 
With vanity delighted glistened 
Too brightly to be duly hid 
By modesty's descending lid. 



166 



FLORA. 



Apollo, practised as a rake, 335 

Such symptom could not well mistake, 
But, from that moment, 'twas his care 
No pains or flattery to spare, 
And soon, which proved his judgment great, 
By seeking to anticipate 340 

(Before her lips could make them known) 
Her wishes, he obtained his own. 

And, now, in varied joys each hour 
Was passed in Flora's myrtle bower; 
Love which had soon with Zephyr ceased, 345 

With Phoebus seemed by time increased ; 
For he, with feelings more refined, 
Called to his aid the charms of mind. 
When passion's fiercer glow was past 
And she those languid glances cast 350 

That tell of satisfied desire, 
The God would take his gifted lyre, 
And, with poetic strains, awhile 
The intervals of love beguile : 



FLORA. 



167 



Whilst Flora, as he sung, would twine 355 

Fresh chaplets for his brows divine. 

Such occupation scarce allows 
One moment's thought of absent spouse ; 
And as the pair in loving guise 
Changed flowers for kisses, songs for sighs, 360 

It chanced that Zephyr, once returning, 
Just as their guilty love was burning, 
Broke in, most unexpectedly, 
Upon his lady's privacy, 

And saw — saw what ? — 'tis not my task 365 

To tell, nor yours, fair dames, to ask : 
Suffice to say, enough he saw 
To prove, in any court of law, 
That he was one of that vile race 
Who on their foreheads bear disgrace. 370 

'Twas now that Zephyr stormed and swore, 
(Such breeze he never raised before,) 
And threatened, in the courts above, 
To lay such serious information 



168 FLORA. 

As should induce the mighty Jove 375 

To grant an instant separation. 

Flora, meantime, though fairly caught, 
With woman's wonted quickness, thought 
'Twas quite as well, at any rate, 
To show she could recriminate ; 380 

And, caring little for detection, 
With this, and Phoebus as protection, 
She, from adulterous embrace, 
Uprising with a crimsoned face, 
Thus, like an injured wife, gave loose 385 

To matrimonial abuse. 
" And did you, libertine, expect 
" That I would tamely bear neglect, 
" And waste in solitude my charms, 
" That you might revel in the arms 390 

" Of all the Nymphs of vale and mountain 
" And ev'ry Naiad of the fountain ? 
" No, Zephyr, no ; let other wives 
" Whose husbands lead such wanton lives, 



FLORA. 169 

" Consume with useless sighs and tears 395 

" The freshness of their youthful years, 

" Such wrongs my spirit soars above ; 

" I Ve tasted and I will have love. 

" And since you chose to quench your flame 

" Before you had a husband's claim, 400 

" But, now that we are duly wed, 

" Prove so inconstant to my bed, 

u I, simply, your example follow, 

" And look for comfort to Apollo. 11 

Ye who would keep your wives from raking 405 

And constant to the nuptial bed, 
Give no bad precedent by taking 

A husband's rights before you wed. 



170 



NOTES. 

LINE 7. 

' Twas also in a fertile land 

Which seemed to own her influence bland. 

The place and time of year in which Zephyr offered violence 
to Flora, are pointed out by Ovid : 

" Chloris eram quae Flora vocor, corrupta Latino 

" Nominis est nostri litera Grseca sono. 
" Chloris eram Nymphe campi felicis, ubi audis 

" Rem fortunatis ante fuisse viris. 
" Quae fuerat mihi forma grave est narrare modestae ; 

" Sed generum matri reperit ilia Deum. 
" Ver erat ; errabam, Zephyrus conspexit ; abibam, 

" Insequitur ; fugio, fortior ille fuit." 

The rest of the story I have altered to suit my fable and 
the very lover-like terms on which, in the latter of the sub- 
joined frescos, Apollo appears to be with Flora. It seems she 
was only a Nymph before her marriage. 

line 10. 
To seek that modest evening Jlower. 
I fear my description of the " Night-blooming Cerus " will 
be found anything but correct by botanists ; but, as the idea 



NOTES. 171 

I have of the plant suits my present purpose, I have abstained 
from searching for more accurate information as to its nature. 

line 39. 

'Twas Zephyr's self, the pride of all 
The dwellers in Molian hall. 

iEolus, as Homer informs us in the second book of the 
Odyssey, was made commander of all the winds by Jupiter ; 
and Virgil, i£n. lib. i. gives him the iEolian islands for his 
abode : 

" Hie vasto Rex JEolus antro 
" Luctantes ventos, tempestatesque sonoras 
" Imperio premit, ac vinclis et carcere fraenat." 

Neptune, in the same book of the iEneid, speaking of that 
abode, calls it a " hall :" 

" Ilia se jactet in aula 
" iEolus, et clauso ventorum carcere regnet/' 



line 77, 
Thus simply , gracefully employed, 
Beauty, of ornament devoid. 

Beauty is " when unadorned adorned the most," says 
Thomson ; but one can scarcely be accused of plagiarism 
for repeating a truth so obvious. 



172 NOTES. 

LINE 99. 

Full oft has such a balmy breath 
(Although not Upas-like, with death J. 

The power of scents over the senses will not be disputed by 
those who have resided in hot climates. Lucretius evidently 
thought that the breath of Zephyr had some love-inspiring 
principle, for he makes him the messenger of Venus: 

" It ver, et Venus, et Veneris prsenuntius ante 
" Pennatus graditur Zephyrus vestigia propter." 



line 179. 
But Gods and men, on such occasions, 
Are fond of blaming their relations. 

The interference of Boreas on this occasion must appear 
a little inconsistent with the fact of his having himself carried 
away Orythyia. Ovid, indeed, mentions this very circum- 
stance as an excuse or precedent for his brother Zephyr : 

" Et dederat fratri Boreas jus omne rapinse, 
" Ausus Erecthea preemia ferre domo." 

But then Boreas had already made an honest woman of 
Orythyia : and why should he not, finding himself married, 
have wished, like the fox without a tail in iEsop's fable, to 
get his brother into the same scrape ? Ovid tells us that 
Boreas, in his own case, tried fair means first : 



NOTES. 173 

" Dilectaque diu caruit Deus Orythyia, 

" Dum rogat, et precibus mavult quam viribus uti. 

" Ast ubi blanditiis agitur nihil, horridus ira, 

" Quae solita est illi nimiumque domestica vento." 

Since, then, this rough gentleman appears to have had some 
sense of honour, I do not think his interference with his 
younger brother so very unnatural. 

line 239. 
The thing resolved, no time was lost, 
For weddings then slight trouble cost. 

That the preparations necessary for marriages, provided 
Hymen was present, were not very troublesome amongst the 
Gods, we may infer from the off-hand speech of Juno on the 
subject of the union of Dido and JEneas. She says she will 
take care that they shall find themselves in the same cave ; 
and simply adds, 

" Adero, et tua si mihi certa voluntas, 
" Connubio jungam stabili, propriamque dicabo. 
" Hie Hymenaeus erit. — Virgil. Mn. 

The event takes place accordingly : 

" Speluncam Dido, Dux et Trojanus, eandem 
" Deveniunt. Prima et Tellus, et pronuba Juno 
" Dant signum; fulsere ignes, et conscius aether 
" Connubii, summoque ulularunt vertice Nymphae." 



] 74 NOTES. 

LINE 273. 
Not so the youthful God of day. 

Ovid, Met. lib. iv. gives the story of Mars and Venus ; and 
says of our friend Apollo, 

" Primus adulterium Veneris cum Marte putatur 

" Hie vidisse Deus : videt hie Deus omnia primus;" 

and again elsewhere, 

" Indicio Solis (quis Solem fallere possit ?) 
" Cognita Vulcano conjugis acta suae." 

Apollo's power of penetrating into such secrets is therefor 
undisputed, and he would not be unlikely to use it for his 
own gratification. 



line 323. 
By Styx I swear, that, were those charms 
Once placed within my longing arms. 

Apollo may seem to employ with great levity the most 
solemn oath used by the Gods ; but we must remember what 
all poets say of lovers' vows : for instance Tibullus, 

" Nee jurare time, Veneris perjuria venti 

" Irrita per terras et freta longa ferant." 

And Ovid, de arte amandi, says that Jupiter himself used to 
swear falsely by the Styx to the ill-used Juno : 



NOTES. 175 

" Jupiter ex alto perjuria ridet amantum, 
u Et jubet folios irrita ferre notos ; 

" Per Styga Junoni falsum jurare solebat 

" Jupiter, exemplo nunc favet ipse sue-." 

line 347. 
For he, with feelings more refined, 
Called to his aid the charms of mind. 

Ovid, the great "Master of arts " in love affairs, gives this 
advice : 

" Ut dominam teneas, nee te mirere relictum, 
" Ingenii dotes corporis adde bonis." 



177 



MINERVA AND HERCULES. 

In that all-memorable scene 
Where Hercules was placed between 
Virtue and Pleasure, and his duty 
Was to reject the brighter beauty, 
It is a fact which should be known, 5 

Although not told by Xenophon, 
That, but for great Minerva's aid, 
His choice would never have been made. 
She, though invisible, was near 
Whisp'ring wise precepts in his ear ; 10 

And when, in spite of all she said, 
Towards Pleasure still he turned his head 
And hesitating seemed to stand, 
By her was seized his passive hand 

2a 



178 MINERVA AND HERCULES. 

And to severer Virtue given, 15 

Whilst Pleasure, for the time, was driven 
To seek for other votaries, 
'Mongst men less prematurely wise. 

Virtue, at first, of triumph proud, . 
Short respite to the youth allowed ; SO 

Inciting him his strength to try on 
Each monster that was famed in fable, 
Boar, earth-born giant, hydra, lion, 
And e'en Augeas 1 dirty stable. 
But though, when thus by her inspired, 25 

He held his glorious course untired, 
Whene'er she chanced to give him leisure, 
He listened to her rival Pleasure, 
Who, not as yet intimidated, 

For all such idle moments waited, 30 

And, slyly, then, with grateful power, 
Ruled o'er him for the passing hour, 
Making the softened hero prove 
His prowess in the wars of love. 






MINERVA AND HERCULES. 179 

This fact, in many cases clear, 35 

Will most in that great feat appear, 

Performed, fair dames, at Thespius" 1 court ; 

Since in a labour of that sort 

Pleasure, I venture to assert, you 

Will own, had more to do than Virtue. 40 

Of course Minerva could not fail, 
With something like alarm, to hail 
The growing symptoms of delight 
With which her chosen favourite 
Received th** attentions of a siren 45 

Whose presence dangers oft environ, 
And from the influence of whose sway 
Herself had snatched his youth away. 
But, still, an innate feeling taught her, 
(Remember, she was Jove's own daughter,) 50 

That, if pursued with moderation, 
There was no harm in relaxation ; 
And, therefore, she conceived it wise 
To his amours to shut her eyes, 



180 MINERVA AND HERCULES. 

Thinking that Heaven's great champion might 55 
Demand indulgence as a right, 
As long as with his grand career 
Pleasure forbore to interfere. 

But Pleasure, though at first contented 
To find Minerva had consented 60 

T' observe a sort of tacit truce, 
Ere long was guilty of abuse 
Of such indulgence, and instead 
Of " hiding her diminished head," 
Whenever Virtue came to ask 65 

The hero's aid in some great task, 
Her influence, soon, so highly rose 
That she was able to oppose 
Each project that would interfere 
With joys Alcides found so dear 70 

That he, at length, to her resigned 
The total guidance of his mind. 

'Twas then that Virtue in distress 
Betook her to her patroness ; 



MINERVA AND HERCULES. 181 

And giving in a dreadful list 75 

Of follies, ventured to insist 

That punishment should now be fitted 

To his enormities committed ; 

And Hercules be made to know 

The deference he ought to show 80 

To her alone, the spotless dame, 

Whose voice had led him on to fame. 

Convinced that from her own neglect, 
In part, had sprung the disrespect 
To her unhappy client shown, 85 

Minerva, willing to atone 
For the past hardship of her fate, 
Promised she soon would reinstate 
Virtue in the distinguished post 
That she had so unfairly lost. 90 

But, ere she did so, she agreed 
Some punishment should be decreed 
To Hercules for his desertion, 
And, though harsh acts were her aversion, 



182 



MINERVA AND HERCULES. 



She thought that under her inspection 
Imprisonment would bring reflection. 
And, therefore, when from his career 
Of folly summoned to appear, 
The culprit came at her command, 
She with her own immortal hand 
In chains, the strongest she could find, 
Hastened his guilty limbs to bind. 



95 



100 



We hence may leam that it were vain, 
Without the aid of Wisdom's chain, 
To seek to keep a youthful mind 
Within fair Virtue's bounds confined. 



105 






183 



NOTES. 

LINE 5. 

It is a fact which should be known, 
Although not told by Xenophon. 

If I recollect aright, Xenophon makes the choice of Her- 
cules perfectly voluntary on his part, and not the result of any 
prompting; but no inconsiderable share of prudence must 
have been required to induce so burly a youth to follow the 
paths of virtue in preference to pleasure ; and as he was after- 
wards much favoured by Minerva, I think she was likely 
enough to have assisted him on this trying occasion. 

line 24. 
And e'en Augeas 1 dirty stable. 

The labours of Hercules are too well known to need any 
comment. That last mentioned, although not a very high- 
sounding exploit, was not the least useful of his performances. 
By the introduction of the clear, reforming stream of the 
Alpheus, he swept away an accumulation of filth to which 
the animals which had produced it, had become so much 
accustomed as to suppose that it formed a part of the stable 
itself. 



184 NOTES. 

LINE 36. 

Will most in that great feat appear, 
Performed, fair dames, at Thespius' court. 

Some say that Hercules remained fifty days at Thespis ; 
but though this fact would diminish the wonder excited by 
the feat, the pleasure of its performance would remain. 

line 50. 

(Remember, she was Jove's own daughter. J 

Minerva, according to all accounts, was much more severe 
in her virtue than the rest of the Goddesses, not excepting 
Diana ; and if now and then an indulgent feeling for the gra- 
tification of the passion of love entered her wise head, it 
must have been inherited from her father. 

line 55. 

Thinking that Heaven's great champion might 
Demand indulgence as a right. 

Hercules, by the advice of Minerva, (who armed him for 
the purpose,) having been summoned by Jupiter, was the 
chief instrument of the defeat of the Giants. Horace says, 

" Domitosque Herculea manu 
" Telluris juvenes, unde periculum 

" Fulgens contremuit domus 
" Saturni veteris." — Carm. lib. ii. 



NOTES. J 85 

LINE 100. 

She with her own immortal hand. 

The learned say that the figure near the column is Hercules, 
and that the subject is Minerva's curing his insanity. I have 
taken the liberty to give another meaning to this curious 
fresco. 



% B 



187 



DIANA AND ENDYMION. 

Such was Diana's reputation 
Throughout each ancient heathen nation, 
That wheresoe'er her shrines were placed 
She always was yclept " the chaste ;" 
And, though her effigies confess 5 

The lightness of her hunting dress, 
E'en when she went with scarce a rag on, 
In virtue still was deemed a dragon. 
Indeed Action's fate so high 

Had raised her fame for modesty, 10 

That she was forced to great exertion 
To keep it free from all aspersion, 
And, hence, was ever teazing Jove 
With stories of th' improper love 



188 DIANA AND ENDYMION. 

Of one or other naughty God, ] 5 

And (though her scruples sounded odd 

To him a most determined rake,) 

Still he was forced her part to take ; 

Whilst in his secret heart he thought her 

A much too exemplary daughter. 20 

There are, and I am one, who doubt 
The virtue that makes such a rout ; 
But in those simple days of old 
Diana's tinsel passed for gold, 
And she herself was spotless thought 25 

Because she never had been caught. 
In fact, her case was much the same 
As that of any modern dame, 
Who may as Queen of Fashion reign 
With fifty lovers in her train 30 

And rendezvous with each enjoy, 
Though (like the theft of Spartan boy), 
If once her loves produce " eclat " 
With "aim. con.''" case in court of law, 




?cL "by T. Bromley: 



DIANA AND ENDYMION. 189 

Her grade is lost beyond recovery, 35 

Not by the crime, — but the discovery. 

But I must, now, proceed to tell 
How chaste Diana's virtue fell ; 
She, roving once on Latinos' height 
By her own orb's voluptuous light, 40 

Stretched on a mossy bank espied 
Endymion, the shepherds' pride, 
Naked as she herself, of old, 
Had stood before the hunter bold, 
But all unconscious, buried deep 45 

In Jupiter's own gift of sleep. 

Now, though in poor Action's case, 
Amidst her comrades of the chase, 
She made him suffer for his prying 
By a most horrid mode of dying ; 50 

Yet, when such case became her own 
And she believed herself alone, 
She scrupled not to gratify 
Her female curiosity, 



190 DIANA AND ENDYMION. 

Stopping to view, with hasty scan, 55 

That formidable creature man. 

But the sly Goddess was deceived 
In thinking she was unperceived ; 
For Cupid, to indulge his spite, 
Had followed close her steps that night, 60 

And now, concealed behind a rock 
Lest he her modesty should shock, 
With joy beheld Night's haughty Queen 
Over the humble shepherd lean. 
He seized the opportunity 65 

His oft derided power to try, 
And buried in Diana's heart 
A viewless and unerring dart, 
Whose subtle poison through each vein 
Spread new, but not unpleasing, pain ; 70 

Till virtue, like retiring guest, 
Gave place to passion in her breast. 
Then first in hers she softly took 
The hand that rested on his crook ; 




- 



DIANA AND ENDYMION. 191 

Next, drawing nearer still, she placed 75 

His passive arm around her waist ; 

She parted next his clustering hair 

And, stooping, kissed his forehead fair. 

And then she gave a gentle shake, 

Exclaiming, " Pretty boy, awake ! " 80 

She shook, but vainly shook, for slumber, 
Which Jove had granted to encumber 
His suppliant, (strange was such a token 
Of favour,) could not thus be broken. 
But Cupid, who with wicked smile 85 

Had watched his victim all the while, 
Relenting now resolved to show 
That he was still a gen'rous foe ; 
And, as to Dian's great surprise 
He stood before her downcast eyes, 90 

Cried, " Goddess proud ! I well might now 
" Deride your oft-repeated vow, 
" That guilty passion ne^r should find 
" A place in your exalted mind ; 



192 DIANA AND ENDYMION. 

" But such is far from my intent, 95 

" For with my triumph I 'm content ; 

" And now am willing to remove 

u The slumber that impedes your love ; 

" If, by submissive bow, you 11 own 

" That my superior power I \e shown." 100 

With look confused, though still divine, 
The humbled Goddess made the sign ; 
When Cupid, prompt his aid to give her, 
Drew a fresh arrow from his quiver, 
And, by a wound than hers still deeper, 105 

To love aroused the heavy sleeper. 

The waking youth with wonder eyed 
The Goddess clinging to his side, 
And, drowsily, received her kiss 
At first unconscious of his bliss ; 110 

But soon the arrow in his breast 
Gave other thoughts than those of rest, 



DIANA AND ENDYMION. 193 

And, fired by Dian's virgin charms, 
He clasped her yielding in his arms. 

Saints here may deem it hard to find 115 

A moral suited to their mind ; 
But on their notice, if they deign 
To read my fable, it is plain 
This simple truth must needs intrude, 
" Virtue is doubtful in a prude. ,, 120 



% c 



194 



NOTES. 

LINE 4. 

She always was yclept " the chaste.** 

Even Horace gives Diana credit for being immaculate 

" Saevis inimica virgo 
" Belluis;" 



and again : 



" Notus et integrae 
" Tentator Orion Dianas, 

" Virginea domitus sagitta.' 



LINE 9. 

Indeed Action's fate so high 
Had raised her fame for modesty. 

Ovid says of Action's punishment, 

" Rumor in ambiguo est : aliis violeutior aequo 
" Visa Dea est ; alii laudant, dignamque severa 
" Virginitate vocant." — Met. 

Surely the former were right, for Actaeon's curiosity was even 
more pardonable than that of " Peeping Tom of Coventry." 



NOTES. 195 

LINE 39. 

She, roving once on Latmos* height. 

Mount Latmos was the scene of Diana's first " faux pas ;" 
for Ovid, when enumerating the associations of exciting ideas 
and the awkward questions which might be made by young 
ladies in the temples of the Gods, says, 

" In Venere Anchises, in Luna Latmius heros ; 
te In Cerere Jasion qui referatur erit." 



LINE 45. 

But all unconscious, buried deep 
In Jupiter's own gift of sleep. 

The proverb, " Endymionis somnum dormire," as expres- 
sive of heavy sleep, arose from the request of that youth to 
Jupiter to be allowed to sleep as much as he desired. Theo- 
critus says he envied him his privilege : 

ZccXoVOS /XiV tp.IV TOV ttTgOVOV VTVOV ICiVOJV 
~Ev$VfAlti>V. 

LINE 50. 

By a most horrid mode of dying. 

Ovid's description of the feelings of a sportsman killed by 
his own hounds is excellent ; at the moment he is destroyed 



196 NOTES. 

by them, Actseon cannot help admiring the ardour of his 
pack: 

" Velletque videre, 
" Non etiam sentire canum fera facta suorum." 

The original fresco is in the house called after Actseon, in 
Pompeii. 




: 






197 



APOLLO AND MERCURY. 

In days more highly favoured, when 
The Gods took greater charge of men, 
And frequent visits paid on earth 
To those they smiled on at their birth, 
It chanced that in a certain town, 5 

(A place no doubt of great renown, 
Although its name I now forget,) 
Apollo once with Mercery met. 

Their tastes, their feelings and pursuits, 
So often led them difFrent routes, 10 

That it was not without surprise 
Each stood before the other's eyes. 
But though with them dislike and hate 
Were quite as mutual as great, 



198 APOLLO AND MERCURY. 

Still they saluted, not the less, 15 

With true Olympic " politesse ;*" 
For Gods above, like men below, 
Their feelings do not always show. 

And now, as though with one consent, 
To the same porch their steps they bent, 20 

Where having gone the usual round 
Of compliments, mere empty sound, 
Each praised, by way of conversation, 
His own peculiar avocation. 

44 What pity 'tis," exclaimed Apollo, 25 

u That with your talents you should follow 
44 Such mean pursuits, and patronise 
44 A set of mortals I despise ! 
" Mean, sordid, money-making wretches, 
44 The height of whose ambition stretches 30 

44 To glut their greedy eyes by stealth 
44 On hidden piles of useless wealth ; 
44 The great inventor of the lyre 
' 4 Deserves, at least, a worship higher 



APOLLO AND MERCURY. 199 

" Than thieves' and base mechanics' vows 35 

" And offerings of pregnant sows." 

" Thanks, Phoebus, for your compliment," 
Quoth Hermes, " if as such 'twas meant ; 
" But, though to such polite abuse 
" Of my vocation you give loose, 40 

" With due submission, I conceive 
" Men from my patronage receive, 
" Whilst learning arts by which to live, 
" More benefit than yours can give. 
" Experience' self will plainly show it, 45 

" Since no one ever saw a poet 
" For whom Dame Fortune had unfurled 
" Her sail to bear him through the world. 
* ' It is a well-known fact that I 
" Full many an humble votary 50 

" To wealth and honours oft have led ; 
" Your fav'rite, Homer, begged his bread ! 
" And, pri'thee, why should I aspire, 
" As the inventor of the lyre, 



200 APOLLO AND MERCURY. 

" To high-flown honours such as you 55 

" Are pleased to say you think my due ? 

" That toy I own that I invented, 

" But my lost labour soon repented : 

" For, saving that it helped Amphion, 

" Brought friendly dolphins round Arion, 60 

" And served th' adventurous Orpheus well 

" In that famed trip of his to hell, 

" I do not recollect one single 

" Real advantage from its jingle. 

" It may have value in your eyes, 65 

" But I, myself, more dearly prize 

" The rod that in exchange I took, 

" Which served you erst as shepherd's crook ; 

" But which I use to keep all quiet 

" In Charon's bark in case of riot." 70 

" I know of old," Apollo cried, 
" Your skill to make the weaker side 
" In argument the stronger seem ; 
" But such false reasoning I deem 



APOLLO AND MERCURY. 201 

" Unworthy of a God like you, 75 

" And fitting only for the crew 
" Of lawyers, who pursue their game 
" Beneath your all-protecting name. 
" You say your votaries you raise 
" To wealth and honours : change the phrase ; 80 
"The wealth, I 'm ready to allow, 
" But own I never heard, till now, 
" Of any honours men could gain 
" By knavish traffic and chicane. 
" Besides, of riches I deny 85 

" Th' intrinsical utility. 
" Your friend, the Phrygian King, of old, 
" Although so covetous of gold, 
" Would have been glad enough, instead 
" Of ingots, to have swallowed bread ; 90 

" And starving on his glittering fare 
" Was forced his error to repair, 
" And to the Lydian stream resign 
" His dang'rous gift — that he might dine. 

2n 



202 APOLLO AND MERCURY. 

" When Croesus, bursting with the pride 95 

" Of wealth and empire, once defied 

" The learned Solon to declare 

" That any mortal could compare 

" With him in unmixed happiness, 

w That sage replied, ' I must confess 100 

" ' That in your present prosperous state 

" ' You seem as happy as you 're great ; 

" ' But Fortune is a fickle queen, 

" ' And, therefore, till the closing scene 

" ' Of life's great drama, none should dare 105 

" ' Of happiness to vaunt his share. 

" ' You bid me name a man whose fate 

" ' To me appears more fortunate : 

" ' That man was Tellus ; he was poor 

" 'In all by which you set such store, 110 

" ' But rich in wisdom, and he sought 

" ' To act the virtues that he taught : 

" ' He saw his num'rous progeny 

" 'In worth and valour round him vie, 



APOLLO AND MERCURY. 203 

"'He saw his country, not less dear, 115 

" ' Prosper in glorious career ; 

" 'And, when in vict'ry's arms he fell 

" i Fighting for all he loved so well, 

" ' His lot in death was happier far 

" ' Than yours, in your imperial car V 120 

" Thus spake the wisest sage of Greece, 

" And Fortune soon with droll caprice, 

" Hurling the monarch from his height, 

" Too plainly proved such judgment right. 

" Now, Hermes, you remember well, — 125 

" And Croesus, when his empire fell, 

" Calling aloud on Solon's name, 

" Preserved his body from the flame ; 

" And thus, when worldly wealth had failed him, 

" Philosophy alone availed him. r ' 130 

Phcebus had scarcely finished speaking 
When his opponent, who was seeking 
Some subterfuge to aid his cause, 
As lawyers search for verbal flaws, 



204 APOLLO A>D MERCURY. 

Exclaimed, " My dear good friend, Apollo, 185 

" Your argument I scarce can follow. 

" I spoke of poetry, and said 

ii That oft to poverty it led ; 

" You answer not that point at all, 

" But up springs Midas at your call, 140 

" And with him Croesus, your tirade 

" 'Gainst lore of worldly wealth to aid. 

" Now, though I am not such an ass 

M As to assert that gold or brass 

" Will make a loaf or a ragout ; 145 

" Still, I maintain, 'tis not less true 

" That, in their traffic, men below 

"To money all their comforts owe. 

" And whilst my votaries, 'tis plain, 

" That article are wont to gain ; 150 

" Yours, being given to abuse it, 

" Are almost always found to lose it." 

" Hold r cried indignant Phoebus, "hold ! 
" It little needs I should be told 



APOLLO AND MERCURY. 205 

" That money makes resistless way 155 

" Among the sordid sons of clay ; 

" But, this you ought at least to know, 

" Wealth unemployed is useless show, 

" And little, therefore, helps the vile 

" Amasser of a hoarded pile, 160 

" Who, since to raise it is his end, 

" But seldom has the soul to spend. 

" The man of true poetic mind 

" Possesses riches more refined ; 

" To him the changing seasons bring 165 

" Their varied gifts : the laughing Spring 

" Relieves with imagery gay 

" The beauties of his rural lay ; 

" Behold him, in the genial heat 

" Of Summer, seeking the retreat 170 

" Where, stretched at ease, in beechen shade, 

" His sylvan vows of love are made ; 

" In Autumn Nature's grander views 

" Affect alike his changing muse, 



£06 APOLLO AND MERCURY. 

" And, as he strikes his sounding lyre, 175 

" His thoughts and feelings wander higher ; 

" E'en Winter's chilling snows among 

" He gathers subjects for his song, 

" In storms and elemental strife 

" Beholds the type of human life, 180 

" And learns, from Nature's yearly fall, 

"To hold him ready for the call 

" Of that relentless ' child of Night, 1 

" Who spares no mortal in her flight. 

" But wherefore, say, that mocking air ; 185 

" What means that furtive smile, that stare ?" 

" Excuse me,' 1 said the roguish God, 
" My thoughts you know are always odd ; 
" And though you speak in terms so glowing, 
" It strikes me, when the north wind 's blowing, 
" Your poet would be none the worse 191 

" Had he some drachmas in his purse ; 
" Since, possibly, he might desire 
" Some better fuel than the fire 



APOLLO AND MERCURY. 207 

" Of his own muse, or wish, at least, 195 

" To leave his intellectual feast, 

" And break sometimes his mortal fast 

" On less ethereal repast. 

" But by that angry brow, I see 

" You do not like my pleasantry, 200 

" And, since I cannot now make bold 

" To brave your anger, as of old, 

" I, hereby, cut our confrence short, 

" And wish your Godship health and sport." 

Thus speaking, and in act to fly, 205 

He raised his " petasus " on high ; 
Phoebus the courtly bow returned, 
But inly with resentment burned ; 
For (as with men of modern day 
After a similar display 210 

Of state or of forensic skill,) 
Each kept his own opinion still ; 
And the result of their debate 
Was to add rancour to their hate. 



208 APOLLO AND MERCURY. 

Although these Gods could not agree, 215 

Their arguments will prove that we, 
Whilst lofty talents we may prize, 
Should not the useful arts despise. 




- 



. 






- ; 



209 



NOTES. 

LINE 3. 

And frequent visits paid on earth 

To those they smiled on at their birth. 

I believe I am right in supposing that the ancients con- 
ceived all men, from the moment of their birth, to be under 
the influence or protection of some particular divinity. Ho- 
race surely alludes to some such current belief when he says, 

" Quem tu, Melpomene, semel 

" Nascentem placido lumine videris, 

" Ilium non labor Isthmius " 

line 13. 
But though with them dislike and hate 
Were quite as mutual as great. 

This is my own assumption, for which I have no other 
authority than the difference of their pursuits. 

line 33. 
The great inventor of the lyre. 

The story of the invention of the lyre, as suggested by the 

2 E 



210 



NOTES. 



shell of a dead tortoise, is told in Lucian's dialogue between 
Mercury and Vulcan. Homer, in his hymn to Mercury, says, 

and Horace, 

" Te canam magni Jovis et Deorum 
" Nuncium, curvaeque lyrae parentem." 

line 35. 
Than thieves 1 and base mechanics 7 vows 
And offerings of pregnant sows. 

The Roman merchants and mechanics celebrated a festival 
in honour of Mercury on the 15th of May, in a temple near 
the Circus Maximus ; the sacrifices were a pregnant sow, a 
calf, and the tongues of animals. The passage in Ovid's 
Fasti, book v. beginning at verse 663, if read to the end, will 
show what^a shocking set of vagabonds Mercury patronized 
from sympathy: 

" Memor Ortygias surripuisse boves." 

Homer, in his hymn, says of this God, 

LINE 46. 

Since no one ever saw a poet 

For whom Dame Fortune had unfurled 

Her sail to bear him through the world. 



NOTES. 211 

Poets have been proverbially poor from the days of Homer 
to those of " the splendid shilling." What says the epigram ? 

" See seven famed towns contend for Homer dead, 
" Through which the living Homer begged his bread." 

LINE 59. 

For, saving that it helped Amphion. 

Amphion's pleasant mode of building is well known ; Ho- 
race thus alludes to it : 

" Mercuri, nam te docilis magistro 
" Movit Amphion lapides canendo." 

There is a very happy conceit, apropos of this subject, in the 
shape of an inscription over the gateway of a house in one of 
the back streets of Naples : the house was, I suppose, built 
by some Paganini of the day, and the inscription is 

" Amphion Thebas, ego domum." 

Herodotus, lib. i. c. 23, informs us, with the gravity of an 
historian, that Arion was saved from drowning by the dolphins 
which the sound of his lyre had previously attracted to the 
vicinity of his vessel. Propertius alludes to this fact when, 
in his elegy to Cynthia, he describes his having dreamed of 
her shipwreck, and says, 

" Sed tibi subsidio delphinum currere vidi, 

" Qui, puto, Arioniam vexerat ante lyram ;" 



2] 2 NOTES. 

and Ovid, de arte amandi, lib. iii. v. 632. 

" Quaravis mutus eram voci favisse putatur 
" Piscis, Arionise fabula nota lyrae." 

Horace says, addressing the lyre of Orpheus, 

" Cessit immanis tibi blandienti 

" Janitor aula? 
" Cerberus ;" 

and much more to the same purpose. 



line 66 
But I, myself, more dearly -prize 
The rod that in exchange I took. 

Mercury exchanged the lyre for the " caduceus " with 
which Apollo used to drive the flocks of Admetus; but which 
Mercury afterwards used for very different cattle and pur- 
poses, as we are informed by Virgil, iEn. iv. v. 242: 

" Turn virgam capit : hac animas ille evocat Oreo 
" Pallentes, alias sub Tartara tristia mittit." 

The " caduceus," when Mercury received it, was merely 
a straight stick ; but being told that it had the quality of 
quieting any dispute, he, to try its virtue, threw it on two 
fighting serpents, who immediately became reconciled, and 
continued ever after to twine amicably round their " mediator." 



NOTES. £13 

LINE 71. 

I know of old, Apollo cried, 
Your skill to make the weaker side 
In argument the stronger seem. 

I here allude to Mercury's being the God of eloquence. 
Horace addresses him, 

" Mercuri facunde, nepos Atlantis :" 

and Ovid says of him, 

" Quo didicit culte lingua favente loqui.'' 

He was a great protector of lawyers. 

line 93. 
And to the Lydian stream resign 
His dangerous gift — that he might dine. 

When Midas made his well-known request to Bacchus, 
Ovid says, Met. lib. xi. 

u Annuit optatis, nocituraque munera solvit 

" Liber, et indoluit quod non meliora petisset. 

****** 

* " Gaudenti mensas posuere ministri. 

****** 

" Turn vero, sive ille sua Cerealia dextra 

" Munera contigerat, Cerealia dona rigebant." 



£14 NOTES. 

The Pactolus, after Midas had washed in it, changed all its 
sand into gold-dust. 

line 104. 
And, therefore, till the closing scene 
Of life's great drama, none should dare 
Of happiness to vaunt his share. 

According to Herodotus, Croesus did not commence the 
conversation by announcing himself as the happiest of men ; 
but asked Solon whom he (Solon) esteemed as such, in the 
full expectation of being himself named. I have followed 
Plutarch's version of the story. The sentiment expressed by 
Solon, that no one can justly be said to be happy until his 
end shall be ascertained, is very common among the ancient 
writers. Sophocles (at the end of the (Edipus Tyrannus, and 
again in the Trachiniae), and Euripides (in several places), 
express this idea ; and Ovid, 

" Ultima semper 
" Expectanda dies homini ; dicique beatus 
" Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet." 

line 183. 
Of that relentless ( child of Night/ 
Who spares no mortal in her flight. 

Mors was born of Night without a father. See Eurip. in 
Alceste. 



NOTES. 215 

LINE 201. 

And, since I cannot now make bold 
To brave your anger, as of old. 

Mercury alludes to that affair of the oxen and quiver so 
beautifully described by Horace : 

" Te, boves, olim, nisi reddidisses 
" Per dolum amotas, puerum minaci 
" Voce dum terret, viduus pharetra 
" Risk Apollo." 



THE END. 



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